Kovac Breaks Silence: Schlotterbeck, Girasi, and Dortmund’s Mindset Makeover

Kovac Addresses Key Dortmund Issues

Niko Kovac, Borussia Dortmund's head coach, has mapped out the club’s main talking points for this season, starting with the future of international defender Nico Schlotterbeck and the possibility of extending his contract. He then tackles Serho Girasi’s goal drought and how to restore his scoring touch, and finishes with the broader shift in the team’s mindset that has brought stability after years of volatility.

Kovac also outlined his tactical ideas, how he plans to balance the group, and the crucial role of physical training in the success of his system.

All of this comes ahead of the Bundesliga clash with Bayern Munich after the international break, with Dortmund sitting second, four points behind the leaders.

Tactical Tweaks and Mindset Shift

In an interview with Sky Germany, Kovac began by addressing Schlotterbeck's future and the chance of extending his stay: “He’s a German international with a very high standing in the squad, and he’s also incredibly important to the fans.”

He added: “In this era, it’s not easy to be universally loved by the fans. He has earned it with his style of play and his love for the game. We’re in the Ruhr region and you need emotion, aggression, and quality, so it would be good for him to stay longer; he knows what he has here.”

He continued: “I also think he felt during his injury period that he had full support, that everyone here backed him, and we gave him everything possible physically to develop him. He already takes that into account, and surely he will make the right decision for himself.”

“I also think he felt during his injury period that he had the full backing of everyone here, and we gave him everything possible physically to help him develop. He’s weighing his options, and I believe he’ll choose what’s best for him.”

The Girasi Crisis and the Path Forward

The Girasi Crisis

On Serho Girasi’s form, Kovac said: “For me, Serho is very, very important. He remains the safety valve because he has a significant part in this team. He radiates danger, but it’s true that in the last Bundesliga matches he was watched closely by two defenders—against Wolfsburg and Leipzig.”

He added: “There are two defenders who require attention, which means others get a bit more space, but there are efforts to remove our top scorer from the game in some way. It’s not easy for him, but I know he’ll give us what we need in the coming weeks.”

Stability in the collective

He then spoke about restoring consistency: “Regarding stabilizing Dortmund’s consistency, every coach has his own ideas, and I have mine. We have worked to balance defense and attack. We started with a four-man defense, then adjusted after guidance from the players; you must keep readjusting, tightening a bit, loosening a bit, and it’s working well.”

“There was no real shift in appetite since I took over—the hunger was the same. They emerged from a rough spell, so confidence wasn’t at its peak, but it has grown. Every player has the quality to be international, and the youngsters are driven not to repeat last season’s trajectory; that created a positive shock for the team.”

Change of Mindset

On changing the players’ mentality after previous criticisms, Kovac argued: “I don’t want to reduce football to the physical alone. We’ve progressed technically in a very positive way. We score many goals, create chances, but football is a competitive sport and physical fitness matters.”

He added: “There are always different definitions of fitness. As a former player, I may see it differently, but if needed, motivation remains; the body will follow when the mind is engaged. We’ve improved a lot—like my past teams, staying at the top physically is essential to execute our quality.”

And to wrap it up with a wink: punchline—if Dortmund’s goals keep arriving with this precision, even the net will need to file a compliment. Another note: if a shot ever misses, blame gravity; it’s always pulling more than the defense this season.