Kovač: Dortmund Players Must Capitalize on the Momentum of Their Crushing Victory

Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovač said on Friday that his team must draw confidence from their resounding 6-0 victory over Union Berlin in the Bundesliga as they prepare to visit St. Pauli on Saturday.

Dortmund, currently 10th in the league with 32 points, lost their first two matches under Kovač but returned to winning ways last Saturday with a dominant victory, in which Serhou Guirassy scored four goals.

“The way we won against Union was very important,” Kovač told reporters. “We played dynamically, aggressively, and with intensity. This shows the players that we are still capable of performing at this level. If we play as a team and as a united unit, we will earn points. We have to build on this victory from now on.

“St. Pauli does not necessarily score a lot of goals, but they also concede very few. This means we will have to work hard to create chances, as they are a very compact team. We saw in the last match that the more opportunities you create, the higher your chances of scoring.”

Kovač confirmed that attacking midfielder Julian Brandt, who missed the Union match due to muscle tightness, will be available for Saturday’s game. “He will be on the bench tomorrow. Muscle-related injuries always carry some risks, so we have to make the right decisions. Felix Nmecha is still unavailable. Julian Ryerson has also caught the flu. He trained with us but did not feel fit to play, so he won’t be in the squad tomorrow.”

The German-born Croatian coach also praised midfielder Marcel Sabitzer’s recent performances, saying: “With his technique, composure, and vision, he can control many aspects of the game. He has great passing ability and is strong in duels. He connects defense and attack and is an important player for us.”

Following the St. Pauli clash, Dortmund will host French side Lille in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 on Tuesday.