When looking at the bigger picture for Borussia Dortmund, the question arises: does the defensively pragmatic Niko Kovac fit a club that recently articulated the vision of a ‘new BVB’?
An interview with Niko Kovac was published in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on Saturday. It was an in-depth conversation where the Borussia Dortmund coach primarily positioned himself against his critics. The 54-year-old defended his football style, countered accusations of lacking talent development, and fundamentally asked for more time.
Kovac didn’t just place this interview randomly. It was a deliberate placement, including the topics discussed. This comes at a moment when the coach has secured early Champions League qualification with BVB and is on the verge of finishing as runners-up.
It is Kovac’s right to express his perspective at this point in the season and to react to accusations that have accompanied him since he took charge 15 months ago. His arguments are also very understandable.
Indeed, it is entirely correct: when Kovac took over Borussia, they were in eleventh place and four points behind fourth place for Champions League qualification. He ultimately managed to get them into the premier European competition, and this season has seen a Bundesliga campaign that is points-wise solid and defensively very stable. Pointing to this positive development is legitimate.
Kovac and BVB: ‘We have total conviction’
Kovac is also going on the offensive now because a fresh wind has been blowing through Dortmund since Ole Book took over as the new Sporting Director. And, of course, Kovac knows that Book’s appointment, along with Managing Director Carsten Cramer’s declaration of a ‘new BVB,’ is perceived in the public eye as being at odds with his footballing approach.
Before the 0-1 loss on Sunday against Gladbach, Book was asked by DAZN if he wanted to use the opportunity to dismiss the debates surrounding Kovac’s future. «I’m happy to do that,» Book replied, elaborating: «We have total conviction. We know exactly at what point he took over here, what he has achieved. We see it internally completely, how many points we have and how successfully we have played.»
Book further stated that they want to build on the «very good foundation» in the new year, but they are also aware of the areas «where we can improve.» They are striving for greater variability, and the team’s development should «clearly build on the strengths of this season.» Hours later, the Ruhr Nachrichten reported that BVB is looking to extend Kovac’s contract soon.
Handling the coaching question is not easy for BVB
Naturally, dealing with the recurring coaching question is not an easy situation for BVB’s management. Dismissing a coach with whom they only extended a contract in the summer and who achieved the most important season goal twice in a row would be a surprise and not without its risks. Entering the third season with Kovac, continuing to play his extremely pragmatic football, and potentially ending up far from silverware again would quickly contradict the slogan of a ‘new BVB.’
«The important thing is simply that we get to know each other very, very well, and that I also get to know the coach even better, and we talk a lot about football content. If we then develop a very clear idea going forward, we can also sign the precisely fitting players. At least, that’s how I always see the task,» said Book. «I absolutely see an idea at Borussia Dortmund that we still need to develop a bit further. That’s the case with every club when a new coach or new sporting director comes in. Then you also want to bring in a few ideas and show a bit of something new, as long as it serves sporting success.»
Book has now seen BVB play from the sidelines for five games. Three of them were lost, all three after very poor performances. In the away game in Stuttgart, Dortmund played no better, but won late. While it’s understandable that the energy at Borussia has long since dissipated, the football offered with a full week of training each time is unlikely to be what Book considers a «very good foundation.»
Niko Kovac: His record as BVB coach
| Competitive Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goal Difference | Points Per Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | 41 | 13 | 16 | 146:88 | 1.94 |
What common solution will Kovac and Book agree on?
The exciting question remains: how does Book, who has impressed for years at SV Elversberg with innovative, progressive ideas and smart transfers, fit with a defensive pragmatist like Kovac, and what approach can these two supposed adversaries agree on? In theory, it is difficult to imagine a common solution emerging from this.
The question of the final impression with which one leaves a season should and will not be decisive. Even after three defeats in the last four games – notably one more loss than in the previous 28 encounters – the results BVB achieves on matchdays 33 and 34 are irrelevant. The major themes of this season have already been set; no further impressions are needed.
Looking at the bigger context, it’s easy to see that BVB did not play «close to the maximum,» as Kovac suggested in the FAZ. He had previously drawn attention to the squad’s quality, implying that no more than the current optimum was possible.
Kovac’s approach raises fundamental questions
Because, even independent of the Book situation, a fundamental problem remains: Kovac’s approach raises fundamental questions. With him, it’s difficult to believe in a different style of football, even with a higher-quality squad – which Borussia urgently needs to optimize in the summer. Even during his time at the high-caliber FC Bayern, Kovac’s style did not differ. For instance, he has never stood for creative, fluid play with pace, technique, and attacking drive.
If one does not let the Bundesliga table cloud their judgment, the bare facts emerge: Dortmund often struggled against equally or stronger-rated teams. 21 goals conceded in ten CL games, only four of which were won, speak volumes. The club did not even anticipate elimination in the Champions League playoffs, and their DFB-Pokal campaign also ended early. That all title chances were gone by the end of February is not a badge of honor.
Add to this performances in the day-to-day business of the Bundesliga, like on Sunday in Gladbach. BVB has put in a string of such uninspired performances against teams that were often deep in the relegation zone. The only difference compared to the match in Borussia Park was that most of those games were often (late) wins. This time, the pendulum swung the other way, but Dortmund’s performance over 90 minutes did not differ from the victorious games.
Kovac and Dortmund are having a kind of marriage of convenience
A ‘new BVB,’ however, needs more than just defensive stability. It needs an identity that goes beyond managing results. The results often proved Kovac right, but the feeling on the pitch often did not. Precisely in this gap lies the problem. Anyone who formulates a new ambition must also let it be seen in their play.
In the end, the feeling remains that Kovac and Dortmund are in a kind of marriage of convenience. Currently, they have a BVB that is partly successful without truly convincing. A coach who delivers results with only 16 losses in 70 competitive matches but manages stylistic poverty. And responsible parties who must weigh continuity against a fresh start. For Borussia, it is less about evaluating the past than about defining the future.
BVB, Fixtures: Borussia Dortmund’s next games
| Date | Match |
| May 8, 8:30 PM | BVB — Frankfurt |
| May 16, 3:30 PM | Bremen — BVB |