Once again on the bench: When will Bellingham make his mark at BVB? | OneFootball

Even in the Champions League match against Juventus Turin, Jobe Bellingham had to take a seat on the bench. Coach Niko Kovac relies on experience and the right balance in Dortmund's midfield.

Borussia Dortmund's midfield talent Jobe Bellingham has not yet secured a permanent spot in the starting lineup following his transfer for 30.5 million euros from England. In the current season's competitive matches, the summer newcomer has only been in the starting formation twice and recently had to come off the bench again in the Champions League match against Juventus Turin (4:4), playing only 19 minutes.

Coach Niko Kovac explained the decision before the match, considering the competition and the need for experience: “He lacks nothing. We have a good team, many good guys. The competition is very strong. Everyone will get their minutes. Today we decided on the team that won the last game – and Sabi with his experience.” Marcel Sabitzer was especially preferred for the starting lineup since Pascal Groß was injured. Kovac emphasized: “In the first game, we need quality and experience. He has that as a national player and as a player with many Champions League matches.”

BVB Coach Kovac Relies on Experience: Bellingham on the Bench Again

Bellingham, who has played 141 out of 270 possible minutes in the Bundesliga so far, still needs to settle in. Nevertheless, there are positive voices in the club: Former BVB star Andreas Möller sees great opportunities for the young Englishman and recently told kicker that he could “become a very valuable player for Borussia – provided he is given the necessary time.”

Kovac suggests that the 19-year-old might primarily come from a deeper, more defensive midfield role in the future, where he will meet Felix Nmecha, Pascal Groß, and Marcel Sabitzer. “It’s no use having two players of the same type on the field. I think the profiles of individual players are different. The balance between physicality, creativity, and running performance must be right. If we can mix that well, we are well-positioned,” explained the BVB coach.

Jobe Bellingham still has a lot of patience ahead of him as he fights for his place in Dortmund's fiercely competitive midfield.

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