Kovač: We will not risk anything against SV Werder Bremen

Niko Kovač, the coach of Borussia Dortmund, has confirmed that his team will not risk any player's fitness ahead of their DFB-Pokal clash against SV Werder Bremen, noting that Alex Meyer is suffering from a cold and fever, which has kept him out of training over the past two days.

Niko Kovač said: "Everything seems to be fine. The only player who is suffering from some issues is Alex Meyer, as he is dealing with a cold and fever, and he was not available yesterday and today. We will see how things develop before tomorrow's match, but we will not take any risks."

The coach added about his opponent: "We must clearly say that there is very good work being done in Bremen. The goal last year was to save the team from relegation, and they succeeded in that confidently and impressively. This year they have taken the next step. And of course, Niclas Füllkrug is currently standing out with his goals; he is a very good player."

Niko Kovač has explained that pressure is an integral part of working in the Bundesliga, saying: "If you are working in the Bundesliga, you cannot get rid of pressure; it is a reality. I will continue to say that football is a sport where two teams compete, and either one can win, whether we play at home or away. Playing at home gives us an advantage, but it does not mean the match will be easy."

The coach spoke about the timing of his team's goals, saying: "At the moment, we score goals in the second half, or after the 60th or 70th minute, but I hope we can do that in the first half as well, because scoring early automatically opens up the game."

Regarding the nature of the coaching profession, Kovač concluded his remarks by saying: "You take everything home with you, none of us can close our office, get in the car, and leave everything behind. That's not possible. You constantly think and analyze how you can improve things. It's an extremely intensive job."