Niko Kovac speaks on vital tactical switch after latest Borussia Dortmund win | OneFootball

A stellar second half helped Borussia Dortmund overcome a stubborn St. Pauli side in a matchday 24 Bundesliga fixture Saturday afternoon. BVB head coach Niko Kovac spoke on the crucial tactical change that helped his team break down the hosting Kiezkicker at his post match press conference.

Dortmund lined up in a 4-2-3-1, yet largely reverted to a back-three when building play out of the back. Ramy Bensebaini and Yan Couto rushed forward whilst (mostly) Pascal Groß and (occasionally) Marcel Sabitzer dropped back to run pivot ahead of Nico Schlotterbeck and Emré Can.

The ploy was clearly aimed at throwing the man-mark pressing in St. Pauli’s 3-4-3 off. Despite the fact that it helped absorb pressure from the opponent and lead to some counter chances, Kovac conceded at the presser that he gladly ditched this overly complicated idea after the first half ended 0-0.

“We encountered what we expected from St. Pauli in the first half,” Kovac noted. “That they would play forward in accordance with their lines. We didn’t let much through [from open play]. We had problems from set-pieces and corners, expected enough with the height advantage St. Pauli maintains.

“We had difficulties playing out of the back in the first half via the [pivot man] triangle,” Kovac continued. “Naturally this was because St. Pauli pressed us with three men. We didn’t find the right solutions.

“We then switched to a back four for the approach play at the start of the second half,” Kovac then remarked as a smile crept onto his face for the first time. “We were then able to involve our fullbacks in the play more effectively.”

“We were then able to break the first defensive line of St. Pauli for the first time,” Kovac concluded. “We then got the game under control and scored the important first goal. Compliments to the lads. A deserved win.“

GGFN | Peter Weis