The midweek fixtures, with victories in Copenhagen (4-2, Champions League) and towards Köln (1-0, Bundesliga), haven’t left any marks on the squad. “Everybody is ok. There gained’t be any main adjustments,” says Niko Kovac with regard to the squad that may journey to Hesse. Emre Can and Julien Duranville, who’ve been out with long-term accidents, is not going to be concerned but, however each are persevering with to make progress. “Juju shouldn’t be allowed to make tackles but as a result of he cannot fall on his shoulder. We will certainly wait till after the worldwide break. Emre is making good progress, however he additionally will not be prepared till after the worldwide break,” explains the BVB coach. “We aren’t placing any strain on both of them as a result of we want gamers who’re 100% match.”
Kovac’s return to Frankfurt
Nevertheless, Borussia Dortmund nonetheless have 4 away video games to play earlier than the worldwide break begins in two weeks, the primary of which is towards Eintracht Frankfurt within the DFB-Pokal. “Each workforce needs to go to Berlin, and so can we,” mentioned Kovac, emphasising the significance of the home cup competitors. BVB superior to the second spherical with a 1-0 win over third-tier aspect Rot-Weiss Essen, whereas Frankfurt gained 5-0 at Oberliga aspect FV Engers. The Black & Yellows have confronted Eintracht 5 occasions within the cup thus far: Borussia have emerged victorious on three events, with Frankfurt profitable two video games. The latest cup conflict between BVB and Eintracht occurred in 2017, when Borussia had been topped cup winners with a 2-1 victory in Berlin. Eintracht Frankfurt’s supervisor on the time was Niko Kovac. “I’m travelling to Frankfurt with an incredible feeling as a result of it was my first managerial place within the Bundesliga. I’m a lifetime member, so I’m completely happy to go to my footballing residence. However nonetheless, I’m the supervisor of BVB and I wish to win the sport towards my outdated membership,” mentioned Kovac.
Frankfurt are at present sixth within the Bundesliga and twenty second within the Champions League desk. “They’ve scored plenty of objectives within the Bundesliga, however they’ve additionally conceded lots, together with within the Champions League.” Every week in the past, Frankfurt misplaced 5-1 at residence to Liverpool, however on Saturday they gained 2-0 at residence towards St. Pauli.
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“It’s a tough away recreation towards an excellent workforce. However if you wish to attain the ultimate, it’s a must to beat your opponents, irrespective of who they’re or the place you play. We wish to win, however we all know how tough will probably be,” mentioned Kovac. Frankfurt have a slight benefit via enjoying at residence, “however that benefit doesn’t imply we don’t have an opportunity. Quite the opposite, I imagine that my workforce have in current video games and throughout this season that now we have high quality, irrespective of who’s enjoying. And we definitely wish to advance. We have now to play our recreation from the primary minute, till maybe even the one hundred and twentieth minute.”
After the fixtures in Copenhagen and Cologne, the BVB professionals now face their third match in per week in a 3rd competitors – hopefully with a 3rd win.
Christina Reinke