Kovac: "He is blessed with unbelievable qualities!" | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac hailed his team’s 2–1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen, emphasizing both the collective performance and the individual qualities of his players.

Kovac however, admitted the game could have turned out differently:  “When you lead 2–0 and don’t make the third, it can always get dangerous at the end. Overall, we did very well today. In the first half, we could have been better offensively, but in the second 45 minutes we stepped it up. Compliments to my team,” he said.

The coach also spoke about the development of Karim Adeyemi, highlighting the young striker’s remarkable talents. “I have to constantly show him what he is capable of. He is blessed with unbelievable qualities that he uses too rarely. Day by day I speak with him to point out what he can achieve. His athleticism is incredible, both in terms of speed and jumping ability,” Kovac explained.

Kovac also praised defender Anselmino, calling him a total professional. “Anselmino is a great guy, a tough competitor who can hurt the opposition, but we need defenders who love defending. Nowadays, defenders always want to build up the game, but sometimes you need to focus on your core skill: defending. He is a true professional, and I love players who perform their job with dedication and passion,” he said.

Regarding a minor incident between him and striker Serhou Guirassy after his substitution, Kovac downplayed it as part of the game: “I know that the reaction after his substitution was a mistake. We always talk about these things after games, and then it’s fine. If someone holds the bar for Serhou, it’s me. He has to accept it when I make a substitution. In the end, it was Fabio Silva who provided the assist for the 2–0 goal,” Kovac added.

The comments underline Kovac’s hands-on approach with his squad, balancing tactical guidance, player development, and team discipline as Dortmund continue their strong start to the Bundesliga season.