Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac was all smiles in the post-match press conference on Sunday as his side rode to a commanding 4-0 win over Freiburg in the Bundesliga in their 1000th league game at home.
Maximilian Beier, Serhou Guirassy, Ramy Bensebaini and Fabio Silva were all on target for the BVB, who ended their losing run and returned to winning ways.
Kovac hailed his side for their performance, especially during a rampant first-half in which the Black and Yellows raced to a 3-0 lead after only 31 minutes.
"“We deserved to win the match – our 1000th Bundesliga home game. It’s a lovely anniversary with a really great result, and a really great first half.""said the Croatian manager
Coming into the fixture on the back of consecutive defeats to Bayer Leverkusen and Hoffenheim, Dortmund were seemingly in a panic mode as it not only ended their title hopes but also delayed their Champions League qualification.
But on Sunday, they played like a team on a mission - solid in structure, swift in movements and devastating in their finishing.
It took them only eight minutes to go in front as Beier slotted one past Freiburg custodian Noah Atubolu before Serhou Guirassy doubled their advantage from close-range in the 14th minute.
Ramy Bensebaini then made it 3-0 with a well-placed header off Julian Ryerson's accurate corner delivery as the match was virtually sealed well before the half-time whistle.
For just the second time in the Bundesliga this season, Dortmund led 3-0 at the break as Kovac's well-oiled unit delivered a fitting response after consecutive defeats.
""The second half was fine in my opinion, too. We could perhaps have put in a bit more effort, but the way we played, especially in the first half, convinced me and made me happy. That was a very good response to what hasn’t gone well over the last couple of weeks. And then everything fell into place: we kept a clean sheet, scored four goals again, and we brought on two young players who got a taste of Bundesliga action. All in all, we’re all very satisfied.”"added the Croatian manager
The match appeared to lose steam after the break with Dortmund taking their feet off the pedal but there was time for one more goal as Fabio Silva netted their fourth in the 87th minute to put the final nail in Freiburg's coffin.
Wiith that, Dortmund officially sealed Champions League qualification too.
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