NEW DORTMUND COACH KOVAC: 'FIRST IMPRESSION IS VERY POSITIVE'

Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac said the first impression of his new club was "very positive" as he was officially presented on Tuesday.

"The first impression is very positive. I'm delighted that my team and I are allowed to be here. After a 10-month break, we're very motivated to be able to work in the Bundesliga again and at such a big club," he said in a news conference.

Kovac replaces Nuri Sahin, who was dismissed on January 22, and this is his first job since leaving VfL Wolfsburg in March 2024.

"Niko Kovac quickly found his way in his first few days. This morning he gave a very good speech to the team, explained what he stands for and what he expects from each individual," sporting director Sebastian Kehl said.

Dortmund rank 11th in the Bundesliga but are only four points off the top four which guarantees Champions League football. They are also in the play-offs of the European elite event where they will face Portugal's Sporting.

But they only took one win out of six games in January and have struggled when playing away from home in the Bundesliga, with two victories in 10 matches so far.

Kovac, however, stressed that he's a "hard worker." His first match will be on Saturday against last season's runners-up VfB Stuttgart.

"Passion, aggressiveness, intensity - these are the things I demand," he said.

Kovac won the Bundesliga and German Cup with Bayern in 2018-19 and also the Cup with Frankfurt in 2017-18.

2025-02-04T15:48:21Z