Optimism is once again buzzing around Borussia Dortmund as the club steps into a new campaign, eager to revive the spirit that once defined them. Head coach Niko Kovač, speaking from the team’s training ground, summed up the club’s current mood: “Overall, we are mixing a good team.” He went on to explain that while three players have departed, the squad has welcomed fresh talent alongside a seasoned professional, preserving the core framework of the side – the goalkeeper, central defender, and midfield anchor – while aiming to resurrect the classic BVB identity of years past. The emphasis is on players who can electrify the iconic Yellow Wall, delivering the high‑tempo, rock‑and‑roll football that has become synonymous with Dortmund since the Jurgen Klopp era.
That style, characterized by aggressive counter‑pressing rather than cautious possession, is meant to bring back the emotional intensity fans have long craved. In recent seasons Dortmund drifted away from this philosophy, opting for older signings in a bid to safeguard their Champions League spot.
The strategy leaned toward safety rather than the daring, attack‑first mindset that traditionally defines the club – a shift many supporters felt was out of character. Kovač’s reference to an experienced addition points to 27‑year‑old midfielder Joey Veerman from PSV Eindhoven.
Yet the most talked‑about acquisitions are the two Greek wingers: the eye‑catching Giannis Konstantelias and the 18‑year‑old prospect Konstantin Karetsas. Their arrival has sparked excitement across the fanbase. During the Franz‑Beckenbauer Supercup, the atmosphere inside Signal Iduna Park surged when Konstantelias entered the fray at halftime, launching relentless attacks against Bayern Munich’s back line. Dortmund were on the brink of overturning a two‑goal deficit, and the energy was palpable.
Veteran Norwegian defender Julian Ryerson, after meeting his new teammates, offered a measured endorsement: “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.” The road ahead will not be straightforward.
The departures of Karim Adeyemi and Julian Brandt – both products of Dortmund’s famed black‑and‑yellow academy – leave a noticeable void. 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.” Nevertheless, that uncertainty is part of the club’s allure. Under the guidance of new sporting director Ole Buch, Dortmund are daring to dream again, betting on the raw potential of their latest signings.
Buch himself has hinted at lofty expectations, especially regarding the two Greek attackers, whose talent pools promise a fresh offensive spark. Whether Kovač can coax the best out of these youngsters remains an open question. He is a coach with a proven track record, yet his reputation leans toward hard work and discipline rather than flamboyant inspiration. His ability to construct a framework in which youthful players can flourish will be closely scrutinised.
When asked to define his footballing philosophy, Kovač admits the answer is simple: “Successful football.” He points to his trophy cabinet – the German Cup with Eintracht Frankfurt and a league‑cup double with Bayern Munich – as evidence of his pragmatic approach delivering results. Critics sometimes view his style as limited compared to more celebrated tacticians. He has experimented with inverting wing‑backs, but his adjustments rarely dominate headlines the way Vincent Kompany’s Bayern tactics do. Kovač’s own words capture his mindset: “If someone likes my style, that is up to you.
For me, we are successful. Since we arrived, we have done a very good job.
As a coach, you need to see what kind of players you have, what situation you are in, and you must always adapt.” Kovač’s adaptability was evident when he first took over Dortmund in late January 2025. The club was languishing in the lower half of the Bundesliga, lacking identity and with European qualification looking distant.
He swiftly altered the formation from a back‑four to a back‑five after a few games, recognizing that the original system was not delivering. He also highlighted the importance of physical conditioning.
“The squad was planned with a back four, but after two or three games we saw it was not working, so we changed into the back five,” he explained. “Physical capacities are crucial. When you are fit, decisions become instinctive – you don’t have to calculate whether to run forward or backward, defend or attack.” These changes paid off. Dortmund climbed to fourth place by season’s end, securing a platform that propelled them to a second‑place finish the following year.
The points gap to Bayern Munich narrowed from 25 in Kovač’s first season to 16 in the next, indicating tangible progress, even if a title challenge still feels out of reach. Kovač acknowledges that closing the gap requires more than tactical tweaks; the team must elevate its performance consistently.
He also notes that Bayern’s form plays a role: “It is also important that Bayern Munich is not playing top,” he conceded, referencing the missed opportunities that saw Dortmund squander a title chance in 2023 and Bayern lose its dominance to Bayer Leverkusen in 2024. Looking ahead, the blend of Kovač’s disciplined approach with the high ceiling offered by the new talent could reignite Dortmund’s ambitions.
The club’s leadership shares this optimism. Chief executive Carsten Cramer praised Kovač’s impact, saying, “Imagine what happened when we hired him one‑and‑a‑half years ago.
We were in regions we never should be and he brought us to the Champions League.” He added, “He is committed. He loves to work for the club. Black and yellow fits him, I would say, much better than the red and white of Bayern or the green and white of Wolfsburg.
I am 100 percent sure that he is the right man at the right moment.” In summary, Borussia Dortmund stands at a crossroads where strategic recruitment, tactical flexibility, and rigorous physical preparation intersect. The club is striving to recapture the exhilarating brand of football that once made the Yellow Wall a feared fortress, while also navigating the realities of modern competition. With Kovač’s pragmatic yet adaptable philosophy, the arrival of promising Greek wingers, and the steady hand of Ole Buch overseeing transfers, Dortmund hopes to transform optimism into tangible success on both domestic and European stages.