"He’s got all it takes: BVB legend backs Kovac for long-term success" | OneFootball

Niko Kovac has stabilized and revitalized Borussia Dortmund from Norbert Dickel's perspective. The BVB icon explains why the coach is doing a "super job" in his view.

Borussia Dortmund has stabilized athletically, and from Norbert Dickel's perspective, this is no coincidence. The BVB icon sees coach Niko Kovac as a crucial factor in the team's positive development and has strong words for his work.

"Niko has everything it takes to be successful at BVB in the long term," said Dickel in an interview with SPORT1. The 64-year-old knows the club like few others and emphasizes especially the clarity Kovac has brought to the team in a short time. Discipline, fitness, and stability have noticeably improved recently, as have the results. "He has brought exactly what was missing," said Dickel. His conclusion is clear: "For me, he is doing a super job."

Kovac is helped not only by his sporting competence but also by his understanding of the club. "It is advantageous if you have understood the DNA of the club," explains Dickel. He sees this as one of the coach's great strengths, who fits Borussia with his manner and sets accents within the team.

Dickel sees Adeyemi as a key player at BVB

Dickel also speaks positively about individual players. Karim Adeyemi, for example, is a footballer who can make a difference—despite or precisely because of his unpredictability. "When he's on the field, you never know what will happen next," says Dickel. A club like Borussia Dortmund needs such types. "You just have to let a player like that play football."

Defensively, Dickel also sees quality in the squad. The sought-after Nico Schlotterbeck he considers a defender "that every Bundesliga club would love to have in their ranks." However, he deliberately does not want to talk about contract issues—that is not part of his responsibilities.

Instead, Dickel looks forward. He assesses the current league position as solid but not as an endpoint. He believes BVB has a lot of potential. "Theoretically, we can still become champions," he says with a smile. For the future, he wishes for consistency above all—and further steps under a coach he fully trusts.

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