Niko Kovac addresses Borussia Dortmund’s injury crisis, Union Berlin and playing with intensity | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund face a defensive injury crisis ahead of their first Bundesliga home game of the season against Union Berlin on Sunday evening. Speaking ahead of the clash, Niko Kovac discussed their opponents, playing with intensity and also addressed the club’s personnel situation.

Nico Schlotterbeck, Niklas Süle and Emre Can are all sidelined with injuries, while Bundesliga debutant Filippo Mane was sent off against St. Pauli last weekend following a straight red card. That leaves Kovac with Waldemar Anton as the only noticeable centre-back available for Sunday’s clash.

There is some good news in that Julian Ryerson has returned to training, while Aarón Anselmino – who arrived from Chelsea on Wednesday – could already earn a start in central defence given their situation. On the Argentine defender, Kovac labelled him as someone who has “great potential” and that could “immediately help” Borussia Dortmund. On Anselmino’s qualities, Kovac added: “He is aggressive and is strong in the duels.”

Borussia Dortmund face a difficult game against Union Berlin

Borussia Dortmund put six goals past Union Berlin in February’s meeting at the Signal Iduna Park, but Kovac warned that Sunday’s game “will be completely different.” In search of their first league win of the campaign following last weekend’s 3-3 draw at St. Pauli, the Croat added that “it certainly won’t be easy” against Union, who “will certainly be very physical, so we will have to fight back.”

Kovac also expects his players to play with a high intensity, adding that his team “have to fight back physically,” and that the foundation for a win on Sunday will be to play with the “necessary intensity.”

GGFN | Daniel Pinder