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Pressure Mounts on Dortmund’s Kovac After 3-3 Stuttgart Letdown

Fan backlash grows after Niko Kovac downplays Maximilian Beier’s post-match “mood at rock bottom” comment.

Overview

  • Dortmund squandered a 2-0 halftime lead to draw 3-3 with Stuttgart, conceding a late equalizer after goals from Emre Can, Maximilian Beier and substitute Karim Adeyemi.
  • Niko Kovac called the second half “inexplicable,” criticizing his team’s passivity, while praising Adeyemi for putting BVB briefly 3-2 ahead.
  • Supporters condemned Kovac’s public remarks about Beier, including his joking references to the player’s age and “too much lactate,” viewing them as disrespectful.
  • Kovac confirmed that 19-year-old Julien Duranville will continue building fitness and match rhythm with BVB’s U23 after a shoulder injury before reentering first-team plans.
  • Recent weeks have featured internal critiques of Dortmund’s passive play, with sporting director Sebastian Kehl and defender Nico Schlotterbeck urging a more proactive style.