Will this last or will Niko Kovač wear down the BVB roster?
Aside of the occasional karaoke rendition of “99 Luftballons” by Nena, former Bayern Munich Niko Kovač is not really known for being much fun.
The impetus for the infamous #MiamiNights WhatsApp group, Kovač is focused on football first and foremost. A no-nonsense philosophy, which includes lukewarm water on the training ground, discipline, and a playing style branded intensity mark Kovač as the exact kind of coach needed to whip a team into shape…and that is exactly what happened since he took over at Borussia Dortmund.
A roster loaded with talent was underachieving, but now is starting to maximize its potential. Sky Sport journalist Patrick Berger posted on X about the impact of the former Bayern Munich coach:
⚫️ Niko Kovač has brought the #BVB back on track – and the players are equally enthusiastic:
“Niko kicked us in the ass,” Karim Adeyemi says emphatically. “He told us we had to run, no matter who we were playing against. It was very difficult at the beginning. But I have to honestly say: It helped me. I feel somehow fitter, and the cramps haven’t come back.”
And goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, who made a world-class save against Leverkusen, added: “He was tough from the start. He doesn’t let much go. It’s a different culture—we need that, too.”
Kovač has guided Borussia Dortmund to four consecutive wins in the league and five overall across all competitions. Once an extreme longshot to make the Champions League, BVB is just one point behind SC Freiburg. Dortmund will square off with Holstein Kiel, while Freiburg faces Eintracht Frankfurt.
Looking for more thoughts and analysis on the awesome display put for by Bayern Munich in its 2-0 over Gladbach? Great, then we have you covered with the Bavarian Podcast Works — Postgame Show. We’ll cover our takes on the starting XI, a rundown of the scoring and substitutions, thoughty on how great the atmosphere and send off for Thomas Müller was, and a whole lot more. You can get the Podcast on Patreon, Spotify or below:
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