Niko Kovac, the head coach of the German team Borussia Dortmund, expressed his strong dissatisfaction today with the length of the recent international break, which extended over the months of September and October, pointing out that it caused great fatigue for the players and disrupted the team’s rhythm, which had been progressing steadily.
Kovac’s statements during a press conference held on Wednesday revealed his perspective on playing four international matches within a short period, describing it as a heavy burden on the players who have to travel long distances with limited squad numbers. Kovac explained that this break directly affected the readiness of some players, as the Greek duo Konstantinos Karetsas and the Swedish Daniel Svensson caught colds, while the team faces logistical challenges in the return of Algerian Rami Ben Seghirini and American Matthias Albert from their countries.
Regarding injuries, the team is also suffering from the injury of Norwegian Julian Ryerson, in addition to the uncertainty surrounding the participation of Nico Schlotterbeck in the anticipated match against Werder Bremen on Friday, which represents Dortmund’s first Bundesliga game after a three-week break due to the Nations League tournament. Dortmund is topping the German league and is striving to regain the rhythm that led to four consecutive victories before the break.
Kovac’s criticism was not limited to the physical condition of the players but extended to the impact of the break on the team’s overall rhythm, stressing that being away from competitions for two and a half weeks negatively affects the harmony and cohesion among players. Despite understanding the ambitions of national team coaches and their desire to achieve victories relying on the best players, the 54-year-old Croatian coach emphasized that the length of the international break exceeded the acceptable limit, putting clubs in a difficult position to quickly regain their form.
