Ahead of the Köln match: This is what BVB boss Kovac says about his squad | OneFootball

A premiere that Borussia Dortmund would certainly have preferred to avoid. For the first time this season, the Black and Yellows suffered two consecutive defeats. At 1. FC Köln (March 7, 6:30 PM), BVB aims to initiate a turnaround.

First, the embarrassing 1-4 defeat in the Champions League in Bergamo, followed by the dramatic 2-3 loss in the Bundesliga against FC Bayern Munich: The team of head coach Niko Kovac (54) left the field as losers twice in a row.

However, it's not just the disappointing results causing discontent in Dortmund. The matches were overshadowed by Emre Can's cruciate ligament tear. The 32-year-old captain will be out for many months, but despite his serious injury, he is expected to extend his contract, which expires in the summer.

Kovac is pleased with this decision by sports director Lars Ricken (49). “Then I hope he comes back as soon as possible,” the football coach awaits the veteran's comeback. On Thursday (March 5), he will provide an update at the press conference before the Cologne match. “I also spoke with him on the phone yesterday,” the Berlin-born coach shares. Can is “doing well under the circumstances.” “Of course,” this is “not easy to process mentally,” the BVB coach acknowledges.

“Not an easy game”

Niklas Süle (30), Filippo Mane (20), and Carney Chukwuemeka (22) will also not be available against the team from the cathedral city. Süle is training partially with the team, Mane individually, Kovac announces. Chukwuemeka is struggling with muscular problems and will therefore not be part of the squad.

The Dortmund head coach has great respect for the Cologne team. It will be “not an easy game,” Kovac is convinced. Although the Rhinelanders “slipped down the table after a brilliant start.” The 54-year-old warns: “In that great stadium with the great fans, they are capable of good things.”

Photo: IMAGO

The Effzeh, as the thirteenth, is only two points ahead of the relegation zone. But a lot is still at stake for BVB despite the recent defeats, Kovac emphasizes. “We still need to score points, we want to score points,” he announces determinedly. “The tension must not dissipate, but we will ensure that. […] Accordingly, we train that way too. With 99 percent, we won't get further.” His demand is therefore: “We have set goals, and to achieve them, we must play consistently.”

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