Language row at BVB: Kovac hits back at Rangnick | OneFootball

After Ralf Rangnick criticized Carney Chukwuemeka’s German skills, Niko Kovac responded calmly. The BVB coach made it clear why English is entirely sufficient within the team.

Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac reacted calmly to Austria national team manager Ralf Rangnick’s criticism of Carney Chukwuemeka’s German skills, while emphasizing BVB’s international outlook. “We are an international club, we live in a global world. It means that, as a coach, you also have to speak different languages, and we really speak a lot of English here,” Kovac explained at the press conference ahead of Saturday’s Bundesliga match against VfB Stuttgart (18:30).

For the 54-year-old, it is clear that language within the squad is not an obstacle. The debate had been sparked by Rangnick, who said after Chukwuemeka’s debut for the Austrian national team that he was surprised “that no one in Dortmund has even tried to get him German lessons yet.” From his time at RB Leipzig and TSG Hoffenheim, he said he was used to different standards.

Kovac strongly rejected that portrayal and pointed to the reality of modern professional football. “It’s completely normal in basketball. It’s becoming more and more normal in handball too. So football is also becoming increasingly international,” said the BVB coach, making it clear that multilingualism has long since become part of everyday life.

Kovac praises communication at BVB despite language diversity

The coach also feels vindicated on the sporting side. “If we were talking past each other, we wouldn’t be where we are,” Kovac stressed with regard to the current Bundesliga season. Communication, he said, works smoothly despite the different languages.

Photo: IMAGO

Another factor, he said, is the tightly packed match schedule, which leaves hardly any room for intensive language lessons. “Where are you supposed to find the time for the necessary German lessons?” Kovac asked, highlighting the practical limits of such demands.

For him, integration on the pitch is what matters most anyway. Chukwuemeka, who joined Dortmund from Chelsea in the summer, has quickly established himself on the sporting side and is “highly motivated” for the tasks ahead. The midfielder could play an important role in the away match in Stuttgart.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.