"Others are better": Kovac singles out BVB starlet | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund sends clear signals regarding Julien Duranville. Coach Niko Kovac increases the pressure on the talent with a clear statement.

Julien Duranville remains on the sidelines at BVB, and coach Niko Kovac makes no secret of why the youngster is currently not getting a chance. After the 2-0 victory against TSG Hoffenheim, the coach openly explained why the 19-year-old was once again not in the squad. "It's difficult for him to be included. We are at BVB – there are really good players, and he is one of them. But the others are better," Kovac said on DAZN.

The Belgian, once brought to Dortmund as a great promise for the future, continues to struggle to find his footing in sports. Since his transfer in January 2023, he has only played 27 official matches and has so far scored one goal and provided one assist – much less than expected from the highly-rated offensive player. At the same time, his injury history runs like a red thread through his time at BVB: six injuries, almost 100 missed games, and months-long breaks, most recently due to a shoulder joint sprain.

Intense competition in the BVB squad holds Duranville back

While Duranville has been gaining match practice with the U23 for a few weeks and is slowly coming back, the competition in the professional squad is intensifying. "We have high competition in the team. It's difficult for him to be included," emphasized Kovac – a clear indication that the winger is currently far from being nominated.

At BVB, they know that Duranville's development has reached a critical point. Although Kovac is considered a coach who offers young players opportunities, the offensive player must primarily do one thing: remain consistently fit and impress in training as well as in potential appearances. If he fails to do so, a loan in the winter could become a topic. There have even been rumors about possible interest from his former club Anderlecht – but there are apparently no concrete signs yet.

For Duranville, it is clear: If he wants to establish himself at BVB, he must quickly catch up and provide the sporting response to his coach's clear message.

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