Nmecha back soon? BVB boss Kovac speaks before Freiburg clash | OneFootball

Can Borussia Dortmund get back on track? After two recent defeats in the Bundesliga, BVB will face SC Freiburg on Sunday (April 26, 5:30 p.m.). The visitors from Breisgau arrive at Signal Iduna Park with a grueling 120 minutes still in their legs.

Just before the end of extra time, Freiburg were dealt the knockout blow in Stuttgart in the DFB-Pokal. As a result of the 2-1 defeat, the Sport-Club will not be traveling to the final in Berlin. But in the Bundesliga, where they are seventh, and in the Europa League, where they have reached the semifinals, they are still very much in the race.

Head coach Niko Kovac (54) therefore explicitly warned on Friday at the press conference about the strength of the team from South Baden. Against Stuttgart, he said, it was clear that Freiburg have “a very experienced team” that also knows “how to play in order to win a match.”

Despite the exertions in the cup, he expects an opponent that will go “full throttle for 90 minutes.” His demand is therefore clear: “We have to push ourselves, be fully switched on, and control the game over 90 minutes.” It is not enough, he complained, to “only play football for 45 minutes.”

“I want to see that in the match as well”

Kovac will still have to do without Karim Adeyemi (24), whose muscular problems have “not yet been resolved.” Available again, however, is Serhou Guirassy (30), who has recovered from his concussion. “He’s back and doing well,” the coach said happily.

In the final stretch, he may also be able to count on Felix Nmecha again. The absence of the 25-year-old in midfield has been noticeable. Neither Jobe Bellingham (20) nor Marcel Sabitzer (32) has so far managed to impose themselves on the game. Naturally, Kovac is not pleased with that. “We are lacking the transition play going forward, as well as composure on the ball and the drive toward goal,” the 54-year-old noted.

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But Nmecha could return to the team in the final phase of the season. “Felix has now started running training; we are optimistic that something will still come of it this season,” Kovac shared. Niklas Süle (30) is also an option — at least for the last two matches.

After two straight defeats, the Dortmund coach has therefore issued a demand to his players. “The training sessions we’ve had have been very good in terms of intensity,” Kovac reported. And with emphasis: “But I want to see that in the match as well.”

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