Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac isn't losing his sleep over their recent struggles. His side is yet to win a game since returning from the international break and are scheduled to play their fourth match of the last 11 days when the BVB face Sabah FK in Baku for their third Champions League match of the League Phase tonight.
Having gone into the international break with a six-game winning streak, which includes a win from their opening four Bundesliga games, the Prussians have failed to win their next three. Their October began with a late collapse against Werder Bremen, who pegged them back in a late 2-2 draw, before Bodo/Glimt beat them 1-0 in Europe. Union Berlin served to pile more misery on Dortmund at the weekend by holding them to a goalless stalemate.
During this patchy run of form, Dortmund lost their position at the top of the league standings and currently occupy second place with Bayern Munich racing ahead on goal-difference, whilst also dropping to 18th in the Champions League table after being unable to add to their three points in Norway last week.
In spite of the glaring meltdown, Kovac remains unfazed. He denied all talks of the club undergoing a 'crisis' while referring to the rescue mission he pulled off right after being appointed as the manager in February last year. Speaking from Baku, he said:
"When we arrived back then, we were eleventh. You can’t compare the two. We’re second, level on points with Bayern. I can put that into perspective. We dominated Bremen, had an unfortunate 2–2 draw, and now against Union it was a clear 0–0 game. What we’re not entirely happy with are the results. Two draws and one defeat, but I’m not making a big deal out of it."
Dortmund don't have much time to reflect on their results as games are coming in thick and fast, and the side is scheduled to play Champions League debutant Sabah FK in Baku, Azerbaijan tonight for their third consecutive match away from home. Kovac, who signed a contract extension until June 2029 just before the start of this patchy run, feels his side has the quality to turn their fortunes around.
"The team has the quality to turn things round as early as tomorrow, and I’m convinced of that. So, I’ll stick to it: read nothing. That’s the easiest and best way to go about it."
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