Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac feels it's imperative for Bayern Munich to drop off in order for his team to stand a chance of winning the Bundesliga title.
The Der Klassiker rivals are set to face-off in a mouthwatering Franz Beckenbauer Supercup clash on Saturday, where the former Croatian international hopes to lift his first silverware with the club.
Last season, Dortmund managed to push Bayern for most of the season but eventually finished 16 points adrift of them in the league.
While they set a few club milestones along the way, the gap between them and the champions was hard to ignore as the BVB fell woefully short at the end.
In his latest address to the press, Kovac reflected on this once more when asked by Indian media house NDTV:
"As a former player and as a coach, it's easy to say words, but the hardest part is to act on what you say. Look at this century from 2000 onwards; we are in 2026, and Bayern Munich have won the title around 18 times. So, you can always expect Bayern Munich to be the favourites."
Speaking of last season's massive points-gap, he said:
"We are here to challenge. Last season, we finished 16 points behind them, down from 25 points the year before, but 16 points is still a huge gap. To bridge that gap, a lot has to happen."
Dortmund have significantly strengthened themselves this summer with six new and exciting signings who could take the side into a new stratosphere altogether. But Kovac feels it won't be enough.
"First of all, we have to play above our capacity. Secondly, Bayern Munich would also need to perform below their level. It isn't just about us playing at top level; it also depends on Bayern not playing at theirs. Of course, we are here to succeed, but we must also remember that other teams are pushing hard from behind. It isn't easy just because we are BVB."
Indeed, it's been 14 years since Borussia Dortmund last won the Bundesliga title. Jurgen Klopp was still the manager then and Bayern Munich were exactly the force they are today. However, the tides have completely turned since then, with thr Bavarians reasserting hegemony in the German top-flight and Dortmund persistently struggling to hit the lofty heights of yore. They came agonizingly close to beating Bayern for the Meisterschale in 2023, needing a win on the final day, but contrived to blow it up by drawing as the Munich outfit triumphed once more.
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