Dortmund sweat over injured trio, Kovač accepting of Schlotterbeck’s rant

BVB’s coach gave a brief yet vague personnel update and squashed any worries regarding media reaction to Nico Schlotterbeck’s outburst.

Borussia Dortmund concerns over the fitness of Waldemar Anton and Aaron Anselmino have not yet been answered said Niko Kovač. 

“Waldi [Anton] and Aaron [Anselmino] are still undergoing tests. We’ll have to wait and see. Sabi [Sabitzer] has a muscle strain. All the other guys came out of the game well,” he explained. 

Both centre-halves Anton and Anselmino started in Wednesday’s disappointing 2-2 draw with FK Bodø/Glimt but sustained injuries and had to be replaced. 

The 54-year-old coach of the Westphalians also touched on Nico Schlotterbeck’s scathing post-match interview, but stated it was not a cause for concern. 

“I understand Schlotti’s frustration. We let a huge opportunity slip away. It’s perfectly normal that he’s upset as a leader. There’s nothing more to add,” he explained.

With BVB making me the trip to Breisgau this weekend for Sunday’s clash with SC Freiburg, Kovač also touched on what to expect from Julian Schuster’s men. 

“Playing in Freiburg isn’t easy. We’re expecting a team that’s dangerous on set pieces. We have to be extremely careful. We need to show a reaction after yesterday’s game. That’s what I expect from my team,” he said.