BVB starlet in crisis? Kovac has his say | OneFootball

Jobe Bellingham is going through a difficult phase at BVB. Coach Niko Kovac is now firmly standing by his side and defending his protégé against growing criticism.

Things are still not going smoothly for Jobe Bellingham at Borussia Dortmund. The 20-year-old Englishman, who joined BVB from AFC Sunderland in the summer for around 30 million euros, has so far struggled to establish himself in Niko Kovac’s team. Ten competitive matches, no goal involvements, and not a single full 90-minute appearance—the record is sobering.

After the 2-1 defeat in the top match against FC Bayern, Bellingham came under additional pressure. For the second goal conceded, he made an unfortunate clearance attempt, which ended up in his own net after a deflection. Especially in his English homeland, he faced a barrage of criticism for this.

BVB coach Niko Kovac cannot understand these reactions. “I don’t understand the criticism at all. Jobe makes a very, very good impression on me,” the coach emphasized at the press conference before the Champions League match at FC Copenhagen. For him, the scene in Munich was “unlucky, but not a mistake”: “He defused the ball reasonably well; normally it would go straight into the goal, because you can’t stop it anymore.”

After Bayern blunder: Kovac backs BVB gem Bellingham

Kovac thus demonstratively stood by his young protégé—and at the same time encouraged Bellingham. “Of course, he hopes for more playing minutes, just like everyone else. I have no problem with maybe starting him tomorrow,” said the coach.

In the internal competition, Bellingham currently has a tough time. In central midfield, Dortmund have so far relied on Felix Nmecha and Marcel Sabitzer. There has also been some unrest in the environment: even at the start of the season, father Mark Bellingham is said to have voiced his displeasure about his son’s limited playing time.

Despite all the difficulties, Niko Kovac firmly believes in the breakthrough of the young Englishman: “I know what he can do. I know what the others can do. We have a good, deep squad. No matter who plays—I have full confidence in each and every one.”

Whether Jobe Bellingham will get his chance in Copenhagen remains to be seen. One thing is clear: he is certainly not lacking support from his coach.

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