“Actually that’s an attack”
Horrorfoul: BVB star has to go off the pitch with a stretcher
Updated on August 19, 2025 – 07:45 a.m.Reading time: 2 min.
In the DFB Cup, BVB moved into the next round with a lot of effort against Rot-Weiss Essen. But shortly before the end, the Borussians lost the next defender.
Borussia Dortmund trembles around the next defender after a horror leaf. A few seconds before the end of the first round game in the DFB Cup against Rot-Weiss Essen (1-0), Yan Couto had to take a heavy kick. The BVB defender led the ball on his own baseline when Essen’s Kelsey Owusu flew up with a stretched leg and caught Couto with full force on the right knee.
Couto immediately went to the ground, rolled in with pain and did not stand up again. The game was over a few moments later, but Couto remained. In the end, he had to be transported from the square with a stretcher. There is still no precise diagnosis, but there is probably a long failure.
BVB coach Niko Kovač Kovač therefore found clear words for the action after the game: “I have to honestly say: You don’t go like this,” he said at the ARD microphone. “I don’t want to assume any intention, but that is grossly negligent. Actually, that’s a stop,” the coach continues. However, he expressed hope that Couto could have got away lightly: “I hope it didn’t happen too much. He has severe pain. We have to wait for the investigations, but I am still confident that it may only be a strong bruise in quotes.”
The trainer reported in the press conference: “Yan is now in the cabin and has an ice cream bag on his knee.”
By the way, Owusu only saw the yellow card for the campaign. In the first round of the DFB Cup there is no video evidence. Luck for Owusu, because the Var would certainly have intervened in view of the brutality of the foul and corrected the punishment on a smooth red card.
Essen coach Uwe Koschinat stated that he hadn’t seen the scene exactly after the game, but still chose excuse words. “Of course get well soon. It looks as if the player is seriously injured,” he told the ARD. “That must and should not be.
Later the Essen coach added: “It is unforgivable when a player gets so hard.”
Sky commentator Wolf Fuss was also shocked by the scene. “Oh yes, he is well served with the yellow. Oh, you dear God. Yes, you are crazy,” said it in view of the slow motion.
For BVB, an injury to the Brazilian would be a serious blow, because with Nico Schlotterbeck, Niklas Süle and Emre Can already fail. “I hope that the couto will not be eliminated because we are currently not the big squad,” said Julian Brandt at the Sky microphone.