Matthäus calls for patience with Niko Kovac amid criticism | OneFootball

Lothar Matthäus has urged patience with Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac, saying the Croatian needs time to make the team play better football and become more stable.

Since taking over from Nuri Sahin at the end of January, Kovac has faced criticism over Dortmund’s style of play.

Recent setbacks, including letting leads slip in injury time against Hamburger SV and VfB Stuttgart in their last two Bundesliga games, have only intensified scrutiny.

Germany legend Matthäus, however, underlines that changes cannot happen overnight.

“In the 2-1 loss in Munich, you could see the great potential in this team. In the first half, they played like a relegation-threatened team, but in the second half, they played like a contender for the title against Bayern,” Matthäus wrote in a column for Sky.

“The Dortmund players can play better and more attractively than in recent Bundesliga matches, but that doesn’t happen overnight. Niko Kovac needs time. 

"The coach has stabilized the team, but they need to work on maintaining focus until the end and not, as in the 4-4 in Turin, 1-1 in Hamburg, and most recently the 3-3 against Stuttgart, let victory slip away in stoppage time.”

Matthäus also predicted that Dortmund will step up against Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday, forecasting a win.

“In the Champions League, Dortmund have played three away games, earning seven points and scoring 13 goals. If BVB show their Champions League form at home against Villarreal, they will win. I predict a 3-1 win.”