Rotation possible: Kovač faces Champions League clash with Copenhagen | OneFootball

Niko Kovač (54) faces a tough decision. “So far, everyone is healthy,” the Dortmund head coach stated with satisfaction ahead of the Champions League clash at FC Copenhagen (October 21, 9 p.m.). Every one of his players is ready to play the full 90 minutes.

BVB has a tough schedule ahead in the coming weeks. Five of the next six matches will see the Black and Yellows playing away from home. “That of course means we’ll be traveling a lot,” Kovač said on Monday evening at the press conference before the game in the Danish capital. He already announced: “I will definitely make some changes here and there.” Everyone will “get their chances” during this phase.

After earning four points against Juventus Turin (4:4) and Athletic Bilbao (4:1), the Westphalians are looking to build on their good start to the “Champions League” season. “We want to pick up points here tomorrow and climb as high as possible,” the football coach declared with determination. After the match in Copenhagen (“well-organized, strong opponent”), a tough away game at Manchester City awaits. “It won’t get any easier there,” Kovač remarked dryly.

The BVB coach is determined to finish the league phase in one of the top eight spots. “We’d like to save ourselves the play-off round and two extra games at the end,” said the 54-year-old. Last season, 16 points were required to make it into the top eight. After eight rounds, Borussia was one point short.

Tough Away Schedule

After the match in Copenhagen, a home game in the Bundesliga against 1. FC Köln awaits. Then the Black and Yellows will travel to Frankfurt (DFB Cup), Augsburg (Bundesliga), Manchester City (CL), and Hamburger SV (Bundesliga). A brief breather is scheduled for mid-November. However, not for the national team players, who will be traveling for their countries.

Kovač downplays concerns. “Players who are very fit can play every three days because they have different physical conditions,” the BVB coach is convinced, but he also knows: “Other players haven’t been so blessed by the good Lord.” In those cases, “you have to plan differently.” All in all, though, he’s satisfied with his team, as they have “developed well physically.” Nevertheless, he will “certainly rotate” the squad. Even against Copenhagen? “Whether that will be the case tomorrow, I’ll still decide.”

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