"I don't see us challenging Bayern next year" – Kovač downplays Dortmund title hopes | OneFootball

After finishing the 2025/26 Bundesliga season in second place, 16 points behind champions FC Bayern Munich, Niko Kovač has admitted that he does not see his side as title challengers for the upcoming campaign.

Speaking after the final match of the season (via DPA), the Borussia Dortmund head coach said he believes Bayern are currently operating at a level that makes it extremely difficult for Dortmund to compete with them.

“Of course we want to improve, of course we want to close the gap at the top,” Kovač said. 

“But we also have to be realistic. Bayern have much more money, Bayern have far more superstars than us. We are a good team, but I don’t see us challenging Bayern next year at this point," added the BVB coach, who is looking forward to some time off now.

“To be honest, I’m quite happy that everything is being switched off for now and that I can do things I normally can’t do,”

Dortmund finished the 2025/26 season with 73 points, in what was the club’s fifth-best Bundesliga campaign in history