Bright BVB start: why Kovac’s basics are paying off | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund got off to a very strong start to the new season. The Black and Yellows have won all four league matches and sit in first place. 

That allows them to head into the international break in good conscience and in very high spirits. Dortmund are not at the top by chance, but because they have gotten the maximum out of the basics that were already successfully implemented last season.

That can be seen in the new campaign through several factors as well. Dortmund have become even more stable.

Despite the critics: Kovac-ball works

There may still be one or two critics who believe that Kovac-ball is not really full of emotion. And yes, the Black and Yellows do not set the world alight in every phase of the game. That is true. And that will remain the case under Kovac, completely regardless of whether young, hungry players are brought in. They increase the options on the ball, but they do not make the core ideas disappear.

Photo: IMAGO

Kovac demands order, he demands discipline, and he wants his team to work hard off the ball. That was once again on display recently against Stuttgart and was rewarded with a 1-0 win. The key point: when the defense is stable, only a few attacking actions are enough to win a game. And BVB always have players on the pitch who can decide a match with a single moment.

Defense remains the key

The defense continues to be the key factor, and it will remain so. Dortmund must find their way through stability, through work off the ball, and through a fundamental calmness in their play. And because the team knows that and is currently fully committed, it also seems to be the case that this very approach is continuing to bear fruit at BVB.

This can also work because the tactical foundation for it was laid last season. That is what they are building on. And on top of that come new types of players who improve the overall game. The physicality and pace of Joane Gadou, the composure on the ball of Joey Veerman, and last but not least the movement in tight spaces of Konstantinos Karetsas: BVB have become better and more flexible.

And if they stay true to themselves, it could be a truly successful season.

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