Dortmund in the crisis: coach Kovac under pressure after Bochum defeat!

Dortmund in the crisis: coach Kovac under pressure after Bochum defeat!

On February 16, 2025, Borussia Dortmund experienced a bitter defeat in the Ruhr area duel against VfL Bochum, which ended 0-2. This bankruptcy catapulted BVB to eleventh place in the Bundesliga. Coach Niko Kovac is now under pressure because he is the first BVB coach in 41 years to lose his first two Bundesliga games. The current season is catastrophic for Dortmund and could go down in history as a "horror season".

Kovac, who wants to keep calm in public, emphasizes that the team must remain calm. Nevertheless, the services on the square are anything but calming. The BVB has difficulty dominating relegation candidates and shows significant defects both defensive and offensive. The decisive mistake that led to the second goal for Bochum was caused by Niklas Süle.

criticism and demands for change

The criticism of the team does not fall asleep. Dietmar Hamann describes the players as "unprofessional" and calls for a "magician" as a coach. National player Nico Schlotterbeck frankly expresses that the players have to become active and improve their performance. He speaks plain text and demands that the basics of football, especially the duels, have to be learned again. Otherwise the season could end in a disaster.

Julian Brandt The performance of Julian Brandt is rated as underground because it cannot give any impulses on the offensive. Other players such as Jamie Gitten, Karim Adeyemi, Marcel Sabitzer and Pascal were also unable to seriously endanger the Bochum defensive. Schlotterbeck is visibly concerned and warns of the impending descent with the impending horror season.

outlook and challenges

Niko Kovac explains that the players have to regenerate because the next competitive game will be due in four days. After five defeats in seven games, the gap to a Champions League place is eight points. Kovac now not only has to motivate the players, but also park the tactical mistakes that Dortmund is thrown back this season.

The coming time will be decisive for Dortmund. Change of coaches have often influenced a team's performance in the past. An analysis on the effectiveness of coaching changes in the Bundesliga shows that such decisions can have both positive and negative effects on team performance. While Kovac wants to keep calm, it should be clarified whether this is sufficient to initiate a turn in the desolate season. The pressure is growing, and BVB has to find the road to success as soon as possible.

Radio Herford reports that ... | SPIEGEL provides further information | bisp-Institut analyzes trainer change