Under pressure: why pre-season is so important for Chukwuemeka | OneFootball

In recent years, BVB have had a number of players who repeatedly showed what they are capable of, but lacked consistency at the highest level. And that for very different reasons. One of those players is Carney Chukwuemeka. 

He has been playing for BVB since February 2025. First he arrived on loan from Chelsea FC, then he was signed permanently. BVB spent around 20 million euros on the player, who can fill several roles in midfield.

The problem: as already mentioned, he has not performed consistently well so far. The signs are definitely there, he keeps showing flashes of quality with his dynamism, but niggling injuries and the occasional game where almost nothing comes off take away his rhythm.

That is far from ideal. It means Chukwuemeka has to deliver if he does not want to lose his place. Especially now, with the reins being tightened in Dortmund during pre-season under Niko Kovac.

Chukwuemeka under close watch

Interesting: after taking part in the World Cup, Chukwuemeka is already back in training and wants to go full throttle right from the start. Then again, Austria were eliminated as early as the round of 32, just like his BVB teammates from the German national team around Felix Nmecha, with whom he is even competing for a place in midfield.

Photo: IMAGO

In any case, even without a new signing in central midfield, a lot remains open at BVB. Of course, Nmecha is probably the player with the best chance of being the long-term number one option. But alongside him, Jobe Bellingham, Chukwuemeka and Marcel Sabitzer are battling for the spots. If nothing else happens, things could become even more interesting.

That is why the rule is clear: from day one, the players who want to play in the center have to go all out. They are under observation, and the more intense the competition and the better everyone performs, the greater the chance that they all stay in Dortmund and no new player is brought in.

His range of qualities speaks in his favor

If you look at the qualities the BVB players bring to the table, Chukwuemeka is a very special player. With his dynamism, he can be used just as effectively as a number eight in a 4-3-3 as he can in front of a back three as the more dynamic element, and also in a 3-4-2-1 system as one of the deeper-lying attacking players. In central areas, he is someone who can make his presence felt physically and does not shy away from challenges either.

The pre-season phase that is now becoming exciting will be especially important for him. Because the circumstances are unusual: he is not coming in at a disadvantage. He is there from the very beginning; last summer, his permanent transfer dragged on until 26 August. And he is fit as well! Those two factors had hardly come together for him before.

That is why expectations among the fans can now rise as well. They most certainly will for Niko Kovac and the coaching staff. And if Chukwuemeka, who at 22 is still a young professional, really hits his stride now, then BVB could have a lot of joy with him.

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