Pragmatic rather than spectacular: BVB is in a much better position than it was a year ago, but still has to fend off criticism. Coach Kovac remains calm and rotates his squad in the Champions League.

The debate about Borussia Dortmund’s style of play continues to plague coach Niko Kovac as the year draws to a close. In the third English week in a row, BVB’s approach in the Champions League will once again be closely scrutinized on Wednesday (9 p.m./DAZN) against FK Bodö/Glimt from Norway. The topic came up again the day before the sixth preliminary round match. Dull, unimaginative, soporific: these are the accusations leveled by critics at the style of football played by Dortmund under Kovac. Julian Brandt described his coach’s pragmatic approach on Tuesday in a Solomonic manner. “We have found a basis for success,” said the 29-year-old attacking player. His coach sat next to him, smiling and relaxed. “He can feel vindicated,” Brandt continued, referring to Kovac’s approach and training methods. “To be honest, that’s not my style of playing soccer. Sometimes I just have to accept that,” Brandt said, referring explicitly to the game against Hoffenheim. However, the accusation that Dortmund plays too unspectacularly and unimaginatively up front is not new. “I’ve been in the business for quite some time. Minorities are not majorities. I still believe we are on the right track,“ said Kovac, responding to the sweeping accusation with his usual calm. His success proves him right. ”Overall, we are extremely satisfied. I’ve been here before in very different final weeks of the year with only ten healthy players and 22 points from 15 or 16 games,” Brandt also said.

BVB is in a much better position than a year ago

BVB is currently third in the league with 28 points from 13 games, seven points more than at the same time last year. The cup exit in the round of 16 against Bayer Leverkusen is certainly annoying. But in the Champions League, Dortmund can take a big step towards direct qualification for the round of 16 against Norwegian outsiders Bodö/Glimt. “Basically, we could put ourselves in a very, very good position,” Brandt said of the situation ahead of the sixth of eight games in the league phase.

“Of course, there are two more decisive games coming up in January, but the goal is to finish in the top eight,” Brandt continued. That would spare them further playoff dates in February. And he didn’t want to hide the fact that the current workload is also a reason for the sometimes tired play. “The English weeks play a role in this. When the eleventh and twelfth English weeks come around in December, it slowly starts to take its toll,” said Brandt. Coach Kovac always rotates his players, which in turn ensures that certain processes in the game do not become automated so quickly. The rotation will continue against the dethroned Norwegian champions, possibly on an even larger scale. “Everyone is healthy. Theoretically, eleven changes would be possible,” said Kovac, but he also emphasized: “We want to win tomorrow’s game, no matter who plays.” A little spectacle would certainly not go amiss for a little more Christmas peace and quiet in the environment.