- Borussia Dortmund remain seven points behind the top four despite recent win over Mainz 05
- Serhou Guirassy expected to return, Schlotterbeck and Couto suspended
- Kovac calls for intensity and passion against direct rivals Freiburg
Key Takeaways:
Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac addressed the media ahead of the team’s important weekend Bundesliga fixture away at Freiburg. The Black and Yellows are coming off a strong performance, having beaten fourth-placed Mainz 05 in their previous outing, but they remain seven points adrift of the top four as the season enters a decisive stretch.
🎙️ Kovac:
"We are playing against a direct competitor. We absolutely want to win. It's about consistency and stability."#SCFBVB pic.twitter.com/WEU5MdlfOD
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) April 3, 2025
Kovac began his remarks by offering a status update on several key players dealing with injuries and suspensions. “Serhou Guirassy is on the road to recovery. We expect he’ll be available for the weekend,” the coach revealed. “Niklas Süle and Emre Can haven’t trained yet, so we’ll have to wait and see. We’re hopeful that Felix Nmecha will be part of the squad.”
However, Dortmund will be without Nico Schlotterbeck and Yan Couto, both serving suspensions. “Nico is an important part of our defence, but I’m optimistic we can replace him this weekend,” Kovac said.
Looking ahead to the clash with Freiburg, the coach stressed the significance of the match: “We’re playing against a direct rival. We absolutely want to win. It’s about consistency and stability.”
He also praised Freiburg’s approach: “They’re a very dangerous team and play with a lot of intensity. We need to approach the game with passion and high intensity.”
Kovac concluded by highlighting Dortmund’s tactical adaptability: “We want to be flexible and adaptable, and we’ve filled our three defensive positions well.”