Niko Kovac calls them “finishers” | OneFootball

With the score 1-0 in the home game against the newly promoted team, Kovac brought on Felix Nmecha, Marcel Sabitzer, and Carney Chukwuemeka just over an hour into the match; Maximilian Beier and Ramy Bensebaini followed about a quarter of an hour before the end.

80th minute: After a give-and-go with Beier, Nmecha scored to make it 2-0. 89th minute: Sabitzer crossed, Nmecha scored with a bicycle kick—3-0.

Fabio Silva had already scored the 1-2 goal as a substitute in the Super Cup against FC Bayern Munich; last weekend, the Portuguese player came off the bench to score the 2-2 equalizer at TSG Hoffenheim and forced Ethan Nwaneri - also a substitute in that match - into an own goal that sealed the 3-2 victory. Earlier in the week, Serhou Guirassy benefited from an assist by substitute Silva on his goal to make it 2-1 against Villarreal CF (final score 3-2). And now against Paderborn: two goals by super-sub Nmecha, plus a shot off the crossbar by Sabitzer.

Niko Kovac calls them “finishers.” The ones who come off the bench “can steer games in the right direction. And we already have quite a few of them,” says the head coach.

Already in the previous 2025–26 Bundesliga season, only Bayern Munich’s substitutes (20) scored more often than those of Borussia Dortmund (19).

“We need a high-quality, broad, and deep roster,” emphasizes Kovac, who consistently knows how to successfully influence games with his strategic moves. But he isn’t talking about himself; rather, he emphasizes: “We have far more players than just eleven - and I’m very happy about that.”

“Competition is good for business”

However, there are also pragmatic reasons for having such high-quality players on the bench: “Because we have a lot of games and, on top of that, many national team players. We have to rotate in consultation with our medical department - other clubs do the same.” Another important (side) effect: “Competition keeps things lively. The competition is there this season, too. If you don’t have competition, you sit back, you rest, you get complacent, and then you don’t get the results you’d like…”

Right now, everything is falling into place: rotation, competition, and an impact from the bench, with substitutes contributing to six of BVB’s twelve goals (excluding the cup match against a fifth-division team).Boris Rupert