Barcelona, Spain – Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac expressed disappointment following his team’s 4-0 loss to FC Barcelona during the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday. This heavy defeat puts Dortmund in a challenging position for the return leg, as they strive to overcome a significant deficit.
Kovac reflected on the match at the post-game press conference, acknowledging the defensive shortcomings that contributed to the loss. “Well, defeats always hurt, especially big ones. But I saw some good things out there and now it’s my job to communicate them to my players,” he stated.
He emphasized the need for improved performance as Dortmund prepares for their upcoming Bundesliga match against Bayern Munich. “We face Bayern [away in the Bundesliga on Saturday] and they’re at a similar level to Barcelona. All in all, over our next two games we need to position ourselves much better defensively,” Kovac added.
The coach pointed out the importance of collective effort in defense to compete against teams featuring world-class players. “We need to defend together. If we don’t do that with intensity against a team like this, who have more than one world-class player, then it’s too difficult,” he said. Despite the loss, he noted, “I saw players of mine running hard, working hard and having some goal chances.”
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund captain Emre Can downplayed personal concerns over his contract situation, which has only a year remaining. With the focus on crucial Champions League matches and the ongoing battle for European qualification in the Bundesliga, Can said, “Of course everyone thinks about what might happen in the future, but it’s not a pressing topic for me at the moment.”
Can, who has been with BVB since 2020 and has served as captain since 2023, noted his longstanding relationship with sporting director Sebastian Kehl, reinforcing that there will be time to discuss his future. “The time will come when we sit down together and talk openly about the way forward. I’m very relaxed about it,” he mentioned.
In other news, RB Leipzig appears close to signing midfielder Ezechiel Banzuzi from OH Leuven, reportedly beating out VfB Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund for his signature. According to Sky Germany, Leipzig is in “pole position” to secure the 20-year-old for a fee around €16 million. Banzuzi has made five appearances for the Netherlands U-21 team and could be a promising addition to Leipzig’s squad.
