Niko Kovač hails Borussia Dortmund prospect Mathis Albert after sharp pre-season start | OneFootball

Niko Kovač has hailed 17-year-old Mathis Albert after a sharp pre-season for Borussia Dortmund, the American forward scoring against Fortuna Düsseldorf following a brief Bundesliga outing last term. Dortmund hold high hopes for the highly rated attacker.

“My dream is to become an important player for the club and to stand out, to be a true leader and help the team win games. I don’t want to reduce my game to just statistics. My main goal is to get better every day and develop as much as possible.” He told Sky.

The head coach highlighted Albert’s speed, aerial strength and work rate, noting he had put in significant effort against Düsseldorf. Known for demanding defensive discipline, Kovač has also been encouraged by the teenager’s application without the ball.

“It has helped me take a certain aspect of my game to a new level. Before, I wasn’t the best in some areas, but this has motivated me to work much harder. There are higher demands, such as the work rate and the space that needs to be covered, especially in the new, more central position.”

“Training with the professionals every day and improving as a player was fantastic.”

After Dortmund’s tour of Japan, Albert will hope for further chances in friendlies against Arsenal and AS Roma.

Source: BuLi News