Kovac brings calm and success, but not every Dortmund star benefits | OneFootball

With 14 points from six Bundesliga matches and a solid start in the Champions League, Borussia Dortmund has successfully mastered the first phase of the season. Under Niko Kovac, there is noticeably more stability—tactically, structurally, and mentally. But where consistency grows, some players inevitably fall by the wayside. The new Dortmund path produces winners—but also clear losers.

Especially with regard to the upcoming top match against FC Bayern, it becomes clear how much the principle of performance has taken hold. Kovac relies on form, fitness, and discipline—which means: no room for big names who don’t deliver.

Pascal Groß: The 34-year-old was considered the coach’s extended arm last season, but now he is only a squad player. The midfield duo Nmecha/Sabitzer is working well, and Jobe Bellingham has also moved ahead of Groß in the hierarchy. Only one start since the beginning of the season—that says a lot. On top of that, there’s a setback at the DFB level: for the first time since his debut for the national team, Groß was not called up. Kovac’s reasoning sounds cool: “He’s not lacking anything, but at the moment the level of performance is just very high.”

Photo: IMAGO

Jobe Bellingham: Celebrated as a marquee signing, the younger brother of Real star Jude Bellingham has so far fallen short of expectations. On the pitch, he still lacks a connection to the game, and off the pitch, it’s mainly his family’s environment causing unrest. According to media reports, father Mark Bellingham regularly interferes—a scenario that is increasingly occupying the club. A winter departure is not on the table, but the 20-year-old is still a long way from the hoped-for success story.

Filippo Mané: He got his chance—and missed it. After a decent cup debut, the 20-year-old defender made a crucial mistake and received a red card in the 3-3 draw at St. Pauli. Since then, he’s been sidelined. With the return of Nico Schlotterbeck and Niklas Süle, as well as the arrival of Aaron Anselmino, his prospects have vanished for now. Mané is now playing again for the second team in the Regionalliga.

Kovac’s approach brings stability—and tough decisions

Names like Emre Can or Salih Özcan could also be added to the list. While Can continues to struggle with persistent injury problems, Özcan was not even nominated for the Champions League.

Kovac himself takes these side effects in stride: “We have a good, deep squad. The team doesn’t pick itself; it’s all about performance. I have to make tough decisions.”

The fact that the BVB coach is right with this philosophy is shown by results and performances. But it comes at a price—and right now, it’s mainly experienced players who are paying, suddenly standing in the shadow of a new Dortmund order.

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