“A real character”: Kovac full of praise for Nmecha | OneFootball

Niko Kovac is happy – and he’s not the only one. “I am convinced that we are all happy,” rejoices the 54-year-old head coach of Borussia Dortmund. The reason is simple: the contract extension of his midfielder Felix Nmecha. The 25-year-old recently put his signature on a contract dated until 2030.

“Felix is a key player for this team,” Kovac stated on Thursday (March 12) at the press conference ahead of the match against FC Augsburg. “He’s slowly reaching his peak,” he said about Nmecha, who does many things “well.” However, the football coach also sees potential for improvement in the Hamburg native. Since he has a “very powerful shot,” he could “become even more dangerous in front of goal.” So far, the midfielder has scored 13 times in 108 appearances for BVB. The criticism is rather mild, though, as “personally, he’s a real dynamite,” the head coach raves about his protégé.

Kovac is still waiting in vain for another contract extension. Although Nico Schlotterbeck’s (26) contract runs until 2027, a departure this summer does not seem unlikely. The interested parties are well-known and financially strong. Real Madrid, Liverpool FC, and Bundesliga rival Bayern Munich are all vying for the Dortmund defensive chief.

“It’s a different situation than with Felix,” Kovac deflects. But he hopes “that Felix’s extension will send a signal to our current players.” The 54-year-old also hopes it could be a sign “for potential new players.”

Beier with World Cup Chances

The BVB coach has some extra praise for Maximilian Beier. The 23-year-old recently delivered a strong performance in the 2-1 away win against 1. FC Köln. With a goal and an assist, he played a decisive role in the victory. “You can also see with him that his development is heading in a very good direction,” says Kovac. “Through hard work, you can reward yourself and the team.”

Photo: IMAGO

Looking ahead to the FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the USA (June 11 – July 19), he adds: “If he continues to perform, he also has a very good chance of being at the World Cup.” But like Nmecha, Beier “could also become even more dangerous in front of goal.”

There are still two home games on the schedule before the international break. After the Augsburg match, Hamburger SV will visit Signal Iduna Park. The goal is six points. “We want two wins now,” Kovac demands clearly and directly.

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