Matthias Sammer praises and warns: BVB still a fragile side | OneFootball

At the beginning of the year, it was a big topic when Matthias Sammer, in his role as a TV expert at Prime, harshly criticized Borussia Dortmund's performance against FC Bologna (1:2). The statements of the 58-year-old were particularly noteworthy because, after the defeat in Italy, coach Nuri Sahin had to leave – and even more so because Sammer was and still is under contract as an advisor at BVB.

As a result, Sammer no longer appeared during the broadcast of Dortmund games and adhered to the internally made agreement not to speak publicly about BVB. However, this much-discussed gag order is now a thing of the past. In fact, Sammer now even has his own show, "Sammer & Basile – der Hagedorn-Talk," together with host Riccardo Basile, and during its premiere, he also addressed Borussia.

Sammer was full of praise for the work of coach Niko Kovac, under whose guidance the development is unmistakably positive: "He has wonderfully managed to get the team marching again," said Sammer, who sees improvements especially in basics like intensity, endurance, and mentality. "To see that as a foundation to defend better, but also to create attacking moves in a system where he has given the players confidence – that is a positive development in Dortmund," rejoices the former BVB player and champion coach, for whom Kovac conveys "calmness, sovereignty, and clarity."

Praise for Schlotterbeck and Anton

Like Kovac, two Dortmund central defenders were also pleased with Sammer's warm words: "Nico Schlotterbeck is currently undergoing a great development. And Waldemar Anton is an incredible character. He brings a determination to compensate for areas where he is not top-notch."

However, Sammer is not yet fully convinced and warns against being satisfied too soon: "For a long time, the team and the club were criticized, now the tide is turning again. But Borussia Dortmund is still a fragile team. We are far from where the club, where Niko wants to be."

For Sammer, it is important "that the team remains just as hungry," for which "counter-cyclical" actions are also necessary, "even knowing that others do not understand it." In this regard, Sammer himself wants to continue to critically question things internally and thus contribute his part to ensuring that the trend remains positive.

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