Overview
- Niko Kovac rejected blame on Bellingham for the Bayern incident, calling it an unlucky play and praising his initial intervention.
- The coach said he would have no problem starting Bellingham and pointed to possible opportunities in Copenhagen after a recent start against Athletic Bilbao.
- Bellingham has totaled 318 minutes across 10 appearances with no goals or assists, largely featuring as a substitute after two early league starts.
- Competition for places remains intense in Dortmund’s midfield with Marcel Sabitzer, Felix Nmecha and Pascal Groß ahead in the pecking order.
- Expectations are high after an approximately €30 million move from Sunderland, where he led promotion and won the league’s best young player award, with comparisons to brother Jude adding scrutiny.