Kovač criticises Dortmund's drop against Elversberg and warns his players

Niko Kovač, the head coach of Borussia Dortmund, spoke about his team's difficult 2-1 win against Elversberg in the ninth round of the Bundesliga, providing a detailed assessment of his players' performances and noting the fatigue resulting from the pressure of matches, along with several technical points that did not satisfy him during the encounter.

Niko Kovač described the victory as "a win achieved with great difficulty", explaining that Elversberg provided strong competition, and that the busy match schedule affected the readiness of his players, as the team played 9 matches over 4 and a half weeks, which reduced recovery and recuperation periods between matches.

The Croatian coach criticized his team's performance in the first half, stating they did not meet expectations due to limited rotation in the lineup and the opponent's defensive strength. He expressed satisfaction with the start of the second half and the success in taking a two-goal lead, but he did not hide his displeasure at the decline in performance afterward, as the players stopped looking for a third goal and made simple passing errors that gave the opponent a chance to come back and put the team under pressure.

The coach warned his players about the dangers of leading by two goals, considering that a score of 2-0 could be "more dangerous" than a one-goal lead, as it might lead players to relax and feel complacent, while a score of 1-0 imposes greater defensive focus until the final whistle.

In his comments on the incident involving Daniel Svensson, Kovač admitted that it was "extremely unfortunate" and a "clear mistake," acknowledging that Borussia Dortmund were lucky not to have the player booked in that game. However, he emphasized that Svensson is not a player who causes problems and that the challenge was not intentional.

Borussia Dortmund's coach praised Felix Nmecha, who scored both winning goals, highlighting his importance to the team on both a technical and personal level. He noted that Nmecha's dynamic presence and technical abilities elevate the team to a "different dimension". The coach added that the 26-year-old player has reached a level of maturity that allows him to deliver more complete and impactful performances.

Kovač also expressed his concern about Kan's injury, as the international break approaches, hoping that all his players return from their commitments with the national teams in good health and without any additional physical burdens that could affect their readiness.

Niko Kovač concluded his remarks by expressing optimism about Borussia Dortmund's ability to maintain their level and balance until the Christmas break, affirming that the team possesses the quality and defensive solidity necessary to face various opponents and continue delivering strong performances in the upcoming phase.