Leverkusen or Atalanta are waiting
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Borussia Dortmund’s coach Niko Kovac doesn’t see any major disadvantage due to the constellation in the Champions League playoffs with the second leg away. “There used to be an away goals rule. It was certainly more important then than it is now,” said the 54-year-old after the 2-0 defeat against Inter Milan. Due to the defeat at the end of the league phase, BVB slipped out of the top 16.
In the playoffs for the round of 16, the Revierklub will now play against either Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen or Atalanta Bergamo. The first leg will be played in Dortmund on February 17th or 18th. The second leg will take place on February 24th or 25th in the Rhineland or Italy. BVB will find out who their opponents will be at the draw in Nyon on Friday at 12 p.m.
BVB talent Mane with a premiere in the Champions League – no reinforcement for the defense
Youngster Filippo Mane made his debut in the premier class and then immediately in the starting eleven. The 20-year-old central defender came into the team in place of the ill Waldemar Anton (infection). Niklas Süle (back) was also out against the Nerazzurri. In addition, Aarón Anselmino is no longer an option after Chelsea FC recalled him from his loan.
“I have no problems betting on him,” emphasized Kovac: “He is developing in the right direction.” The Dortmund home-grown team has made five appearances for the professionals so far. For Kovac, the line-up in the premier class was “also a recognition of what he has achieved in the second team or shows every day”.
Sports director Sebastian Kehl also praised the talent and explained in the same breath that they were well positioned in central defense even without Anselmino. “Filippo Mane did well, he won the duels, was rigorous, quickly integrated himself. He justified the trust that the coach had in him, and in doing so confirmed our path that, firstly, we will no longer do anything in this position and, secondly, we trust the players we have.” The 45-year-old sees the squad “wide enough” by the summer and also has “confidence that we can achieve our goals with these players.”
