FEATURE | A decisive week for Borussia Dortmund and Niko Kovač

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Saturday night brings another challenge for Borussia Dortmund and head coach Niko Kovač. The Black and Yellows have drawn both Bundesliga games after the return of club football and will be under pressure to win against an inconsistent Eintracht Frankfurt team. 

Kovač will face a team he managed for two years and where he lifted the DFB Pokal. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, he said: “Wherever I work, I always leave my heart there. That’s just the way it is. Sure, I’m an employee. But I think you can see – I hope you can see – that we identify fully with BVB here, that we give our all every single second we’re here. It’s incredibly important to us; that’s for sure. I had some wonderful moments in Frankfurt, and here too.” 

When Kovač first reached the Pokal final with Eintracht, his team lost to Thomas Tuchel’s BVB in 2017. A year later, his team upset Bayern Munich to win the trophy, which also paved the way for him to take over the record Bundesliga champions. 

Eintracht recently lost 6-0 to Leipzig but bounced back quickly with a 1-0 win against Cologne last week. It will be uncertain which side will turn up on Saturday, but only a convincing win can clear the air in Dortmund for Kovač and his men. 

Eintracht is a club where Kovač proved himself. The team was struggling in the relegation zone when he took over. After saving the club, he stabilized it in much the same way he calmed the storms at Dortmund after taking over from Nuri Sahin in February 2025. But in Frankfurt, his tenure was capped with a trophy, and there weren’t murmurs like now about a lack of exciting football. 

In Dortmund, the management believe in him, as they have mentioned on several occasions. Managing Director Lars Ricken has come to Kovač’s defense, stating that while style of play matters, winning is more important. 

The fans, however, remain divided when it comes to the 55-year-old. Even a win in the UEFA Champions League against Sabah did very little to appease the disgruntled fans who still question how the team plays. 

Kovač has a history of staying about two years at clubs he manages. Now at Dortmund, he has extended his contract until 2029, signalling that he is aiming to remain for the long haul at the Signal Iduna Park. 

While Kovač won’t be in danger of losing his job, the team can easily lose track of their season goals in what will be a crucial week for the side. BVB face Werder Bremen in the DFB Pokal midweek, the same side against whom they dropped points recently. After that, it will be an away game against Vincent Kompany’s Bayern. A cup exit and more dropped points in the league can put the team under the microscope. A home win on Saturday will be crucial in that regard. 

GGFN | Brook Genene