“A process”: Couto on his tough start at BVB | OneFootball

After a longer adjustment period, Yan Couto has found his place at Borussia Dortmund. The BVB star explains why he initially struggled in the Bundesliga and what has changed since then.

Yan Couto needed a longer adjustment period at Borussia Dortmund but now feels settled. The Brazilian right-back explained in an interview with Ruhr Nachrichten why he initially struggled at BVB and what he sees as the biggest differences between the Bundesliga and his previous stops.

The 23-year-old was active in European countries for several years before moving to Dortmund. Under contract with Manchester City, Couto never made an appearance, instead playing three years for FC Girona in Spain and two years for Sporting Braga in Portugal. The adjustment was accordingly significant. "I was used to life and playing in Spain and Portugal," said Couto, adding: "In Spain, there's much more play with the ball, and the opponent doesn't put you under as much pressure. Here, you have to be physically top-fit to handle the intensity."

In the summer of 2024, Couto initially moved to BVB on loan, and a year later, the agreed purchase obligation of 20 million euros was triggered. Under coach Niko Kovac, the right-footer initially faced challenges but improved as the season progressed.

Couto's Strong Development Under BVB Coach Kovac

He particularly developed in his role as a right wing-back and has already contributed to several goals. The high demands of the coach were crucial in this development. "The coach demands that I can win duels both in defense and attack. I had to think faster, act faster. It was a process," explained Couto.

He views his development positively: "I believe I am already at a very good level, but of course, I can still improve to become an even more complete player." Recently, Couto had to start on the bench in the Bundesliga match against Borussia Mönchengladbach (2:0)—but for a happy reason.

Due to the birth of his child, he was not in the starting eleven and was only substituted in the final phase. Overall, the Brazilian's form curve is clearly on the rise—a sign that he is increasingly overcoming the initial difficulties at BVB.

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