Sympathy for Sandro Wagner? BVB boss Kovac delivers a clear message | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund faces struggling Augsburg – and coach Niko Kovac has clear words for his colleague Sandro Wagner. The BVB coach feels sympathy, but offers no gifts.

Before the Bundesliga clash between Borussia Dortmund and FC Augsburg (Friday, 8:30 p.m.), BVB coach Niko Kovac spoke about his colleague Sandro Wagner – and did not mince words.

While Kovac showed understanding for the difficult situation of the Augsburg coach, who is under pressure after being knocked out of the cup by second-division Bochum (0:1) and the 0:6 debacle against RB Leipzig, he made it clear there was no room for pity. “As a coach, I have understanding for every single coach, because there are two types of coaches: those who have already been dismissed, and those who will be. That’s our job,” Kovac explained.

Despite his sympathy, the Dortmund coach emphasized that his focus is clearly on his own team: “We can’t also take care of the other 17 teams.” His goal is clear: to continue his own success. “We need to be 100 percent there as well. We want to win the game, that’s our ambition, that’s our goal.”

BVB coach Kovac warns against FC Augsburg

BVB travels to Augsburg with confidence. After the cup victory against Eintracht Frankfurt, self-confidence is high – also because the squad is largely fit. Niklas Süle had to be substituted in the cup due to a knock, but Ramy Bensebaini is back in training after injury and, according to Kovac, is an option. The 54-year-old especially praised central defender Waldemar Anton: “I am very satisfied with him, he really is an Ironman.”

The mood is quite different for the opponent: Sandro Wagner faces a real test in his first Bundesliga season as head coach. In Augsburg, no one wants to talk about emergency plans yet, but the pressure is mounting. “We have to come up with a good plan against a top team so we can have a good game,” said Wagner. He is counting on energy, strength in tackles – and a quick sense of achievement: “Such insecurity can quickly turn into a good feeling if you score an early goal.”

Meanwhile, Niko Kovac warns against underestimating the struggling opponent. “Clearly, the situation for Augsburg at the moment is not the easiest. But that doesn’t mean it will be easy for us,” emphasized the BVB coach. Because one thing he knows: In the Bundesliga, only one thing counts in the end – success.

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