Report on England interest
© Imago
Niko Kovac demands sacrificial willingness to sacrifice from his team in the end of the season and explicitly also involves the injured and battered players. “Now it goes into the hot phase, into the crunchime. We need everyone. The boys have to bite,” said Borussia Dortmund coach at the matchday press conference.
With a use of the Pascal Groß injured at the knee at TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday (3:30 p.m./Sky) it is apparently nothing. With Maximilian Beier there is still hope. The ex-Hoffenheimer had got a blow onto the ankle in the 3-2 against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Easter Sunday. “Maxi didn’t train today, he still has severe pain. I don’t give up there either,” said Kovac.
The BVB, which has been slipped into the middle of the field, has been undefeated in the Bundesliga for four games and, as the table seventh four game days before the end of the season, again in striking distance to the European Cup places. “I am pleased that the boys recognize what is possible. Everyone wants to be there in crunchtime,” said Kovac. “Everyone can read the table. Everyone knows what it is about. Everyone has to screw up the focus.”
BVB: Kovac talks about Brandt-Report on England interest on the trainer
The Croatian left open whether Julian Brandt returns to the starting eleven. The 28-year-old, who repeatedly shows fluctuating performances, there were recently headlines because he reports that he is the focus of Werder Bremen-the club from his hometown, for which he was never active. Again and again Brandt is also called the black-yellow a candidate, but for Kovac this is-at least public-not an issue. “I know his skills and know what he is able to do. I also know that he is very important. I know he splits some, but it doesn’t split me at all. I’m totally convinced of him.” The midfielder’s contract is valid until 2026.
Kovac also has a working paper at BVB by 2026. After initially doubted in the media whether he was the right coach for the Dortmund, he now convinced his critics and led the club back into the race for the Champions League. His work is also closely observed beyond the borders of Germany. The “Picture“According to several clubs from the Premier League Kovac, a club also asked about it in concrete terms.
But even if the Premier League is a dream of Kovac, this is currently not planning a farewell to Borussia, the newspaper writes. This also speaks that the 53-year-old moved from his hotel to an apartment in the south of Dortmund.