Kovac before clash with Athletic Club: “Everyone is determined – and that's how it has to be” | OneFootball

After a 4-4 draw in their opening match away to Juventus, Borussia Dortmund are looking to secure their first Champions League win of the season against Athletic Club on Wednesday. For the record, the last time the Black & Yellows played at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK in the Champions League, they emerged victorious on the night. Although Borussia were ultimately eliminated in the quarter-finals by Barcelona in April, they put up an impressive fight against the five-time winners of the competition and won 3-1 at home in the second leg thanks to a hat-trick from Serhou Guirassy.

Aaron Anselmino, Emre Can and Julien Duranville will be missing for Niko Kovac the first Champions League match in Dortmund since then . In addition, substitute goalkeeper Patrick Drewes and Salih Özcan are not registered for the Champions League. “Everyone else is fine,” said the coach, including Serhou Guirassy, who had to be replaced by Julian Brandt at short notice against Mainz. “Serhou completed the final training session, everything was fine. He is ready to play.”

Nico Schlotterbeck is also ready for action, and will play his third game since returning from injury. However, the Borussia player is not yet where he wants to be in terms of performance, according to his own statement: “I can play much better and improve by an extra 10% to 20%,” said the centre-back, who has been pleased with BVB’s defensive performance recently . The hard work of the attacking players without the ball made a big difference in the game against Mainz last weekend: “That makes it easy for us to do the rest.” Things are also running smoothly in the back three – so much so that Borussia have not conceded a goal in their last four Bundesliga games.

“We’ve done very well,” said Niko Kovac, praising his team’s defensive performance. Above all, Kovac sees “progress” after conceding a total of seven goals this season – three against St. Pauli and four against Juventus – and that is important to him. “The team are determined to defend better. Everyone is determined – and that's how it has to be.”

The Borussia players will need to be especially determined if they are to secure their first three points in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday evening. Athletic Club, currently tenth in the Spanish La Liga, are coming to SIGNAL IDUNA PARK after losing their first game in Europe’s premier club competition 2-0 to Arsenal. The Basques, who are playing in the Champions League for the third time in the club’s history, made it to the semi-finals of the Europa League last season (where they were knocked out by Manchester United). It is Dortmund’s first meeting with the Spaniards, whose squad consists exclusively of Basque players – this special feature provides additional motivation, explained Niko Kovac. “That’s local patriotism, which you can see on the pitch. Every single player represents his region. The players give their all not only for the club colours, but also for their region.” That’s not the only reason why the BVB coach expects a “compact and well-organised opponent”. Because, as Kovac emphasises, “a team that comes to the Champions League from Spain definitely has quality. Every player is very able technically and good with a ball at their feet.”

BVB coach Niko Kovac: “We have to be the team to dictate the game”

However, Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde, who has been in charge since 2022, will probably have to do without arguably his best player on Wednesday evening: Nico Williams took part in the Spanish team's final training session, but is unlikely to be in the squad. “He’s a great player – Athletic will miss him, which could help us,” says Niko Kovac about the Spanish international winger.

But regardless of who will be on the pitch for Athletic, the BVB coach emphasises: “We have to be the team to dictate the game so that we can impose our style on the opponent.” Do that, and Borussia will be able to celebrate their next Champions League victory at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK following their win over Barcelona in April.