Fight for the turn: Dortmund coach Kovac demands team spirit and discipline!

Fight for the turn: Dortmund coach Kovac demands team spirit and discipline!

On March 9, 2025, Borussia Dortmund experienced another disappointment in the Bundesliga. The team lost 0-1 against FC Augsburg at home, which is already the third home bankruptcy this year. Trainer Niko Kovac, who was recently presented as a new coach, looks at a loss in view of the sporting situation. Increasing whistles and insults from the fans show that patience in the fan base is running out.

After the final whistle, it became clear that there are tensions in the team. Players got together on the square, and Nico Schlotterbeck spoke of a "huge head topic". The defensive player emphasized the fragility of the entire team and made it clear that placement in the midfield cannot be the goal of the club. Instead, BVB's claim must be to play in the upper table regions.

The search for a solution

The sporting management, led by sports director Sebastian Kehl, criticized the lack of energy and the will of the players. In view of the latest results, the dream of the Champions League for the Dortmund seems to have already moved far away. The team did not show a team spirit on the square and looked extremely free of ideas. In injury time Marcel Sabitzer had the chance to equalize, but his shot was deflected by Augsburg's Guirassy.

coach Kovac, who has already had his first two working days, has known himself for his philosophy. He demands hard work, dedication and passion from his players. Despite the setbacks, he remains optimistic and hopes for an improvement, not least through innovations in the squad.

squad changes and tactical considerations

The current challenges could be alleviated by the new additions in winter transfer summer. The BVB made three and a half new additions: Daniel Svensson, Carney Chukwuemeka (loan from Chelsea), Salih Özcan (returnee from VfL Wolfsburg) and Diant Ramaj, who comes from Ajax. Kovac was involved in the considerations of these transfers and is satisfied with the possibilities regarding the management planning.

The loss of Donyell painted, which has switched to Aston Villa and thus leaves 16 goal involvement per season, is a bitter setback. In addition, the transfer of Rayan Cherki from Olympique Lyon failed, which also puts Kovac under pressure. The trainer could introduce a 3-5-2 system, similar to in Frankfurt, to improve the situation and to better use the strengths of its players.

With just four points behind fourth place that RB Leipzig takes, there is still hope that the club can bring about a change in the upcoming games against Stuttgart, Bochum, Union, St. Pauli and Augsburg. Nevertheless, the bosses of the association are already considering to make radical changes for the summer if the sporting performance should not increase soon.

The situation at BVB remains tense and the continued price fluctuations on the transfer market require quick action. At a time when the team strives for continuity and performance, it will be crucial whether the new coach Kovac can find the necessary support to kitten the deep cracks in the team.

[image] reports that fans are increasingly dissatisfied and that the sporting management has already made the initial considerations for a change. This could mean a fundamentally new direction for the club, which urgently needs to free itself from the current crisis.

During the pressure remains to be seen whether Kovac and his team develop the necessary team spirit to steer the season in a positive direction.

[Sky] emphasizes that the upcoming opponents will be decisive for BVB in order not to lose sight of the desired goal of Champions League.