Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac seems to be in awe of Konstantinos Karetsas. The Greek international completed a high-profile move from KRC Gent that costed them 30 million euros and since then, has even impressed with his eye-catching displays.
In the Emirates Cup game against Arsenal, Karetsas made his club debut and even scored a fabulous goal to announce himself to the fans. He was rewarded for it with another start in the AS Roma clash, his first game at the Signal Iduna Park since the transfer, and turned heads once again with his intelligent movements and some crucial passes in the build-up.
Ahead of his first official game for the club on Saturday, Kovac reiterated that while he's a talented young prospect, he will not be rushing the star or overloading him with a lot of gametime. Speaking to the press ahead of the Bayern Munich clash, he said:
"In the games against Arsenal and Roma, we already saw what Kosta can do with the ball – how he sets up his teammates but also how he can make himself a key player. That’s what we were looking for. But at 18, he still has a lot to learn. The leap from the Belgian league is a big one. That’s why we’ll bring him along carefully."
Despite this statement from the Dortmund manager, we could see Karetsas in the starting XI on Saturday in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup. With their other two signings Joey Veerman and Giannis Konstantelias lacking match practice, Kovac really doesn't a choice in the Number 10 position.
Speaking of Konstantelias, his arrival throws up the prospect of him and Karetsas, two young Greek guns, forging a menacing attacking partnership in midfield. Kovac admitted that both are shouldering lofty expectations from the fans, but expressed confidence in their ability to adapt sooner rather than later.
"Of course, you never know whether it will work out when you sign new players. But our expectations are high, because Karetsas and Konstantelias are very talented and have performed exceptionally well in their respective leagues, in Belgium and Greece. We have been watching them for a long time and know exactly what they are capable of – they will settle in very quickly."
Kovac had revealed earlier that Konstantelias and Veerman are doing well in training and may include them in the matchday squad too. But the game may still come too soon for Konstantelias, who was unveiled as their new player only on Tuesday. He will likely be named among the substitutes on Saturday but questions remain if the 23-year-old would actually get a chance to play.
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