Kovac succeeds in turning BVB around: "He kicked us in the ass"
Niko Kovac has, after a slight delay, led BVB back to winning ways. With a win by at least two goals in the final league match against Kiel, a Champions League spot is virtually assured. The reason for the upswing is simple.
Four Bundesliga wins in a row: Karim Adeyemi (yellow jersey) and Niko Kovac (second from right) celebrate the 4-2 win in Leverkusen. IMAGO/Team 2
"Keep it simple"! That was Niko Kovac's motto when the 53-year-old took over in Dortmund at the beginning of February. The experienced coach didn't want to overload the faltering BVB team with content, but rather stabilize it with simple yet effective means. With one matchday remaining, it can be stated: Kovac's measures have been successful. With 19 points from the last seven games and a 4-2 away win at Leverkusen behind them, his team has Champions League qualification back in its own hands.
Adeyemi: "It's not fun - but in the end you're there"A win against Kiel by at least two goals would see Borussia jump into the top four, as Dortmund's rivals are taking points from each other in the parallel match between third-placed Frankfurt and fourth-placed Freiburg. Only an extremely unlikely scenario could change that .
It would be a huge success in what has otherwise been a disappointing season: BVB reporter Matthias Dersch explains why Borussia Dortmund needs a shake-up, even if they qualify for the Champions League. And: Is Dynamo Dresden ready for the 2nd division?
But how did Kovac manage to turn things around? "He kicked us in the ass," joked Karim Adeyemi after the win in Leverkusen on Sunday. Of course, Kovac didn't actually resort to physical force. Rather, he "told us that we had to run, no matter who we were playing against, because with our qualities it would be very difficult for the others," Adeyemi clarified, admitting: "It was very difficult at the beginning, but you get used to it. It helped me. I feel fitter, and the cramps don't come back." The attacker, who scored his seventh goal of the season in Leverkusen, summed it up: "It's not fun – but in the end, you're there."
Lactate tests and shot bansWith several lactate tests over the past few weeks, Kovac has documented and guided the physical development of his players to lay the foundation for the final spurt. The amount of running in training increased, which goalkeeper Gregor Kobel commented smugly on in Leverkusen ("I see the others running a lot"). Shooting after training sessions, however, was banned to protect the muscles. It's just one example of the clear rules Kovac established – and with which he apparently pushed the right buttons in his players. "He doesn't let much go. But we needed that," Kobel summed up in Leverkusen.
The fitter the players became—which isn't a given at this stage of the season—the more focused they played. The defense stabilized, and the offense became more effective. This led to better results, which in turn boosted confidence. It's a simple equation.
"We tried to improve in all areas and be bolder. The team had to understand that we had to invest more and fight back. That's nothing new in football, but it's nice that some of us have internalized it even more," said sporting director Sebastian Kehl on Sunday, before following up his slight dig at the players with a compliment: "The team is on the right track. Let's see what we get in return next week."
If their nerves aren't fluttering, a similar victory against the already relegated Kiel, who have conceded 77 goals so far this season, should be possible. And in front of their own fans, no less. However, a look at the recent past shows that it won't be a foregone conclusion: In the 2022/23 season, BVB needed a home win on the final matchday against FSV Mainz 05, who had nothing left to play for, to celebrate the title. The end result of a nerve-wracking 2-2 draw was a 2-2 draw – and thus a fall to second place.
Points gained after being behind in Munich and LeverkusenRecently, however, BVB has appeared significantly more stable. This is evidenced by both the point they earned in Munich ( 2-2 ) and the recent win in Leverkusen, both of which came after coming from behind. This team has a new quality, also thanks to Kovac's efforts – and it could prove very important on Saturday.
