Niko Kovac Criticises Dortmund’s Lack of Creativity Despite Narrow Win Over Sabah FK
Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac has expressed his disappointment with his team’s lack of creativity in their narrow victory over Sabah FK, particularly in the attacking third. Despite securing three points in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Croatian manager believes his side should have scored more goals after creating numerous opportunities throughout the match.
Serhou Guirassy scored twice to guide Dortmund to victory, ending their winless run across all competitions in October. However, despite applying pressure from the opening minutes, Die Borussen struggled to break down Sabah’s defensive organisation. Their opening goal came when Guirassy reacted quickest to a rebound following a shot from Felix Nmecha.
After the final whistle, Kovac reflected on his team’s performance, acknowledging that Dortmund had consistently pushed forward but lacked the improvisation needed to turn their attacking pressure into more goals.
The 55-year-old believes his players should have been more decisive in the final third, arguing that the visitors had enough opportunities to secure a more convincing victory. In his assessment, Dortmund could realistically have scored three or four goals rather than settling for a two-goal margin.
Kovac also identified defensive vulnerabilities that made the contest more difficult than necessary. While Dortmund focused on attacking, their defensive line occasionally became too exposed, allowing Sabah’s forwards to exploit the space left behind. Their transitions from attack to defence were also far from seamless, creating gaps in the heart of the defence and giving the hosts opportunities to threaten.
For Kovac, these shortcomings remain important areas to address despite the positive result. Dortmund’s attacking ambition needs to be balanced with greater defensive discipline, particularly when possession is lost and the opposition can launch quick counter-attacks.
Nevertheless, the Dortmund manager was pleased to see his team return to winning ways after a frustrating run of results throughout October. He praised his players for securing the victory and helping the Black and Yellows rediscover some much-needed momentum.
Although the performance was not as convincing as Kovac would have liked, the three points offer Dortmund a foundation to build on. Their next challenge will be to improve their attacking efficiency while tightening their defensive transitions, ensuring that greater dominance on the pitch translates into more comfortable victories.
