Record under Niko Kovač
BVB in front of Champions League qualification: “He stepped into our ass”
12.05.2025 – 11:55 a.m.Reading time: 2 min.
Despite the overall weak season, BVB can still achieve the Champions League qualification. The players blame the trainer for this.
With four victories in a row, Borussia Dortmund brought back into the race for the Champions League places. After the 4: 2 success at Bayer Leverkusen, even the direct jump under the top four is possible again on their own.
After the game, offensive player Karim Adeyemi made it clear what happened under the new coach Niko Kovač. Kovač made it clear to the team that commitment was asked. “He kicked us in the ass. He told us that we had to run,” said the 23-year-old. Although it is not fun to run without a ball, Adeeyemi continues, but: “You get used to it – and it helped me. I feel fitter, the cramps no longer come. It doesn’t come from anywhere.”
Kovač took over the post of Nuri Şahin in February. A different wind has been blowing at BVB since then. Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel said: “He doesn’t let go much, but we also need that. It is certainly a different culture.”
Sports director Sebastian Kehl also sees the development positively. He said that Kovac pressed “the right buttons”. “The team has to understand that we have to invest more, that we are of course a good team in football, but that it is also about keeping it,” he said.
Fifth place in the table is currently only enough for the Europa League. But with a win against the already fixed relegation Holstein Kiel – and that with three goals lead – Dortmund can still pass Frankfurt or Freiburg. Both clubs meet in a direct duel.
If only the Europa League jump out, it would be “definitely” a disappointment, said Kobel. And Adeyemi expects Kiel “a sick game with the fans. This will definitely be fireworks.” The hard training of the past few weeks, he emphasized, had paid off.