Kovač-ball is rather efficient than necessarily pleasant to watch
Niko Kovač's tenure as a BVB manager did not start well, with a 2-nil home loss to Stuttgart. Still, the Croatian definitely compensated with this over-the-hill Champions League win against Sporting. That victory was more needed than necessarily well-deserved since we have already discussed that the score doesn't tell the whole story.
Despite the underwhelming first half, Kovač said what needed to be said in the locker room at halftime and did what he does best: made his teams play vertical and efficient football. Two long crosses on the back post and one deadly counter-attack were all BVB needed to capitalize and take the win back to Germany.
On the one hand, I believe there is beauty in different styles of play, especially if they are clearly defined and well-executed. So even if Kovač's tactics are not aesthetically pleasing to the general public, I believe there is a certain beauty in playing with purpose, which is precisely what Dortmund did in the final half against Sporting. Within the plurality of styles and ways to see the game nowadays, Kovač has his own.