Repeated criticism of BVB's playing style leaves Kovac unperturbed

Renewed criticism of the BVB playing style of Kovac echoes in the Westfalenstadion, while the Dortmund side, after the 2-1 hard‑fought victory over Sabah FK in the Champions League, finally ends the small result crisis that began with the 2-2 draw against Werder Bremen and now hopes for more consistent performances.

The victory over the Turkish club Sabah FK provided the coveted point for Borussia Dortmund, but it was followed by the deserved defeat against Bodø/Glimt in the top tier as well as a meagre 0:0 draw against Union Berlin. The crisis had already begun with the 2:2 draw against Werder Bremen, which forced the Dortmund side into defence.

New tasks in the calendar

Now the match against the struggling Eintracht Frankfurt is upcoming, followed by the classic against Bayern Munich next Saturday, 31 October, and a second round in the DFB‑Pokal against Werder Bremen on 27 October.

Coach Niko Kovac set the marching orders for the Frankfurt duel: “We want to travel to Munich with a good result.” Many fans hope that the BVB playing style in the coming weeks will act significantly better than in the previous matches. The expectation of securing a result against Frankfurt is considered crucial for confidence ahead of the duel with Bayern.

The clear words of Kovac on the criticism

The ongoing criticism of the playing style of Kovac is not new, nor is the opinion of the 55‑year‑old coach. When asked, he explained: “I am not a friend who promises the blue from the sky. The way we are doing it at the moment is good. Certainly we can improve further. But I stand by this: I will not let a minority become a majority.”

The young Greek Konstantinos Karetsas is certainly ruled out for the matches against Frankfurt and Bremen after an ankle injury sustained against Union Berlin. Kovac emphasized that the player should not be rushed: “We will not force any player in. It is better to pause one more game than a whole month.” An appearance against FC Bayern next Saturday is, however, not ruled out.

As long as the Dortmund side does not address the criticism of its playing style, the expectations of the supporters remain high, while the upcoming fixtures provide the chance to restore confidence in the concept of Kovac. A positive result could reignite the discussion about the tactics of Kovac.