'Love to see it': BVB coach Kovac backs Schlotterbeck | OneFootball

After the commotion surrounding Nico Schlotterbeck's critical words, Niko Kovac demonstratively backs his defense chief. The BVB coach praises responsibility, leadership, and an important "self-cleansing" within the team.

Niko Kovac has once again stood protectively by Nico Schlotterbeck and explicitly praised his defense chief's much-discussed statements. After Borussia Dortmund's 2-0 home win against Borussia Mönchengladbach, the coach made it clear that he not only accepts open criticism within the team but explicitly welcomes it.

The trigger for the debate was Schlotterbeck's interview after the 2-2 draw in the Champions League against Bodø/Glimt, in which he clearly held several teammates accountable. Kovac sees no problem in this but rather an important building block for functioning team structures. "I think it's great, we always talk about mature players," said the 54-year-old, emphasizing his stance.

For the Dortmund coach, Schlotterbeck is long more than just a key player. "That's what a coach wants: responsibility," explained Kovac, clearly labeling the national player as a leader. Such types are necessary to initiate processes within the team and address problems internally. Criticism is just as much a part of it as praise.

BVB Coach Kovac Sees Self-Cleansing Through Clear Statements

Kovac also referred to the lessons from his own coaching career in this context. "My coach Trapattoni said: A coach can't do everything alone," he recalled Giovanni Trapattoni. Leaders must take responsibility, both in the locker room and on the field – exactly what Schlotterbeck has done. His strong performance against Gladbach completed the picture.

Away from the praise for Schlotterbeck, the game did not remain without side issues. Karim Adeyemi reacted angrily after his substitution, which will have consequences. Sporting director Sebastian Kehl announced: "The scene will be discussed, and he will receive a penalty for it." Such behavior is not wanted at BVB.

Sportingly, satisfaction prevails at the second-placed team. Dortmund has stabilized in the first half of the season and is heading into the winter break with positive development – also thanks to clear words from within their ranks, as Kovac emphasized.

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