Optimism is returning to Borussia Dortmund as the club embarks on a new campaign, eager to reclaim the identity that once made them a beacon of German football. Head coach Niko Kovač, speaking from the training ground, summed up the club's current mood: "Overall, we are mixing a good team. Four players left, we have brought in fresh talent and added an experienced head, so we kept the spine – the keeper, the centre‑back, the midfield anchor – and now we are trying to recreate the BVB of the past." This statement captures a deliberate attempt to blend continuity with renewal, preserving the core structure while injecting new energy.
The vision Kovač describes is one of players who can ignite the famous Yellow Wall with their flair, delivering the high‑tempo, counter‑pressing football that defined Dortmund under Jürgen Klopp. In recent years the club drifted toward a more cautious approach, favouring older signings and a safety‑first mentality aimed primarily at securing Champions League qualification. That shift, while pragmatic, muted the instinctive, attacking spirit that fans associate with the black‑and‑yellow. Key to the current overhaul is the arrival of 27‑year‑old Dutch midfielder Joey Veerman from PSV Eindhoven, the experienced player Kovač referenced.
Veerman brings a blend of technical skill and composure that should stabilise the midfield. Yet the most talked‑about acquisitions are the two Greek wingers: Giannis Konstantelias, a dynamic attacker already making waves, and 18‑year‑old prodigy Konstantin Karetsas, a prospect with a reputation for creativity and pace. Their introduction sparked excitement during the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, when Konstantelias entered at halftime and immediately threatened Bayern Munich's defence, helping Dortmund claw back from a two‑goal deficit.
Veteran Norwegian defender Julian Ryerson, after meeting his new teammates, expressed cautious optimism: "It looks positive, yeah. We also had some good players last year but I hope it takes us to a new level, of course. I hope and I think that we are on a good path." His comments underline the belief that the fresh faces can elevate the squad beyond the solid, yet unspectacular, performances of the previous season.
The departures of Karim Adeyemi and Julian Brandt, both products of Dortmund's famed academy, left a noticeable void in the attacking line‑up. Kovač acknowledges the challenge: "We need to replace these goals, it is clear. Of course, when you buy new players, you never know if it is going to work or not." This uncertainty is part of the club's allure – a willingness to gamble on potential, trusting that the new sporting director Ole Böck will nurture the talent. Kovač's managerial style is often described as pragmatic, favouring hard work over flamboyant tactics.
He boasts a respectable résumé, having lifted the German Cup with Eintracht Frankfurt and secured a Bundesliga‑DFB-Pokal double with Bayern Munich. Critics sometimes label his approach as limited compared to more celebrated peers, noting that his recent experiments with inverted wing‑backs have not attracted the same analytical attention as Vincent Kompany's tactical nuances at Bayern. Nevertheless, Kovač defends his philosophy: "If someone likes my style, that is up to you.
For me, we are successful. As a coach, you need to see what kind of players you have, what situation you have, and you must always adapt." When Kovač took over in late January 2025, Dortmund were languishing in the lower half of the Bundesliga, their identity fragmented and European qualification a distant dream. Club chief executive Carsten Cramer praised the turnaround, recalling how Kovač rescued the team from a precarious position and guided them back into the Champions League race.
"He is committed, he loves to work for the club. Black and yellow fits him much better than the red and white of Bayern or the green and white of Wolfsburg.
I am 100 per cent sure that he is the right man at the right moment," Cramer affirmed. Kovač attributes much of his early success to tactical flexibility and improved physical conditioning. Initially deploying a back four, he switched to a back five after a few games when the original setup proved ineffective.
He also emphasised fitness, arguing that a fully fit player makes decisions instinctively rather than through calculated deliberation: "Without those physical abilities, you are calculating. Should I run backwards? Should I run forward? Should I defend?
Should I attack? If you are fitter, you just do it." These adjustments helped Dortmund finish fourth that season, providing a platform that was built upon to secure a second‑place finish the following year.
The points gap to Bayern Munich narrowed from 25 to 16, suggesting a gradual closing of the dominance gap, though a genuine title challenge remains a work in progress. Kovač notes that Bayern's form also influences the race: "It is also important that Bayern Munich is not playing top." Recent history has been bittersweet for Dortmund supporters.
The club squandered a title opportunity on the final day of the 2023 season and watched Bayer Leverkusen end Bayern's streak in 2024. Yet the promise of a disciplined framework combined with the high ceiling of new talent fuels hope. When asked whether he prefers to speak first or let results speak, Kovač smiled: "I do not like to speak first and then work.
I think the opposite way is better." Looking ahead, the key questions revolve around how quickly the Greek wingers can adapt to the Bundesliga's intensity, how Veerman will integrate with the existing midfield core, and whether Kovač's pragmatic approach can evolve to harness the creative flair that Dortmund fans cherish. If the club can blend its historic attacking ethos with the physical and tactical rigour Kovač champions, Borussia Dortmund may well find themselves not only back in the Champions League but also genuine contenders for the league crown. The journey is far from guaranteed, but the optimism that now fills Signal Iduna Park suggests a club ready to rewrite its narrative and reclaim its place among Germany's elite.