Niko Kovac forthcoming about Borussia Dortmund tactical plans ahead of Augsburg clash | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund’s Saturday Bundesliga meeting with Augsburg won’t be a walk in the park for Niko Kovac’s BVB. Dortmund’s head coach acknowledged many of the statistical headwinds he’s facing directly at his Friday press conference, noting that “the statistics don’t lie”.

The numbers associated with the league table should prove especially frightening for Kovac. With a win, Jess Thorup’s FCA could draw level with Dortmund on 35 points in 10th place. Such an outcome would prove disastrous for Dortmund’s already bleak European prospects.

Kovac remained fairly forthcoming about his tactical plans this weekend while speaking on Friday. Personnel changes from Tuesday’s disappointing Champions League against Lille draw shall be made. The 4-2-3-1 formation should nevertheless remain in place.

Kovac spoke on the possibility of pairing Maximilian Beier together with Serhou Guirassy in a two-striker-set, deliberately ruling the option out. Beier will serve on the wing.

“If you have two strikers and there are only two in the box, you won’t get far,” Kovac said. “Ultimately, it’s about having enough people in the box, no matter from what area they enter.”

Both Guirassy (at nine) and Julian Brandt (at ten) will retain their positions from the UCL draw despite workload concerns. If deemed fit enough, Felix Nmecha will play in midfield.

“I’d like to play him [Guirassy] a little less,” Kovac noted. “But he’s the only true striker at his position which means he has to work through it.”

“It shouldn’t be too hard on him [Brandt],” Kovac noted of his other ironclad starter. “We need Jule. He is a very important part of this team. The only way to get him back to where he needs to be is to play him.“

GGFN | Peter Weis

“Of course he can also play in the number 10 role,” Kovac said of Nmecha. “But with his physicality, presence, technical skill, vision, and interpretation of the position, he is a future player for the number six or eight.  He is the future of this club.“