Optimism is returning to Borussia Dortmund as the club embarks on a new campaign, not merely to rebuild but to reclaim a lost identity that once defined the team. Head coach Niko Kovač summed up the atmosphere at the club's training ground when he said, "Overall, we are mixing a good team." He went on to explain that after the departure of four players, Dortmund have added fresh talent alongside a seasoned professional, preserving the core of the squad – the goalkeeper, central defender and key midfielders – while aiming to recreate the essence of the BVB of yesteryear. The vision Kovač describes is one of exciting, attacking football that will once again ignite the famous Yellow Wall.
Dortmund’s traditional style has always been about high‑tempo, counter‑pressing play, a kind of rock‑and‑roll approach that thrills supporters. That brand of football, popularised during Jürgen Klopp's tenure, emphasises speed, intensity and emotion rather than cautious possession. In recent seasons, however, the club drifted away from this philosophy, opting for older signings in an attempt to secure Champions League qualification through a more conservative, safety‑first approach – a strategy that many fans felt was at odds with Dortmund's DNA.
Kovač highlighted the arrival of 27‑year‑old PSV Eindhoven midfielder Joey Veerman as the experienced figure meant to anchor the side. Yet the real buzz among supporters centres on the two Greek wingers the club has secured: the eye‑catching Giannis Konstantelias and the 18‑year‑old prospect Konstantin Karetsas. Their signings have already sparked conversation, especially after Konstantelias entered the fray in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup.
Coming on at half‑time, he immediately put pressure on Bayern Munich's defence, helping Dortmund claw back from a two‑goal deficit and reigniting the stadium atmosphere. Norwegian international Julian Ryerson, who has been with Dortmund for a season, expressed optimism about the new arrivals: "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 underscore the belief that the fresh talent can elevate the team beyond its recent plateau. The departure of key figures such as Karim Adeyemi and Julian Brandt left a noticeable void in the squad's attacking output.
Kovač admitted the challenge plainly: "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 excitement surrounding Dortmund's project.
Under the guidance of the newly appointed sporting director Ole Böck, the club is willing to gamble on potential, hoping that the Greek wingers will develop into top‑class performers. Kovač's reputation as a coach who values hard work over flamboyant tactics raises the question of whether he can unlock the raw talent at his disposal. He is a proven winner, having lifted the DFB‑Pokal with Eintracht Frankfurt and secured a league‑cup double with Bayern Munich, yet critics sometimes label his style as pragmatic rather than visionary. Recently, he has experimented with inverting wing‑backs, but his tactical tweaks rarely dominate headlines the way Vincent Kompany's innovations at Bayern do.
When asked about his footballing philosophy, Kovač replied, "If someone likes my style, that is up to you. For me, we are successful. And I think that, together, since we arrived, we did a very good job.
As a coach, I think you need to see what kind of players you have, what situation you have, and you must always adapt." This adaptive mindset proved crucial when he took charge of Dortmund in late January 2025, a period when the club languished in the lower half of the Bundesliga and seemed to have lost its identity. The team was struggling for European qualification and appeared disjointed.
Dortmund's chief executive Carsten Cramer praised Kovač's impact, recalling the club's dire situation a year and a half earlier: "Imagine what happened when we hired him. We were in regions we never should be and he brought us to the Champions League." Cramer 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 per cent sure that he is the right man at the right moment." Kovač's early interventions were both tactical and physical. He noted that the squad initially operated with a back four, but after a few games it became evident that this formation was not delivering results, prompting a switch to a back five.
On the fitness front, he observed that many players lacked the physical capacity required for Dortmund's high‑pressing system. By improving conditioning, the team could make quicker decisions on the pitch – whether to press, retreat, attack or defend – without over‑thinking each movement.
The results of these adjustments were tangible. Dortmund finished fourth that season, securing a platform that propelled them to a second‑place finish the following year. The gap to Bayern Munich narrowed from 25 points in Kovač's first full season to 16 points in his second, indicating progress though still leaving a considerable distance to bridge for a genuine title challenge.
Kovač acknowledges that closing this gap will require multiple factors aligning: "To close this gap, a lot must happen. Dortmund must play above themselves. It is also important that Bayern Munich is not playing top," he conceded.
Recent frustrations have included missed opportunities, such as the title slip on the final day of the 2023 season and Bayer Leverkusen ending Bayern's dominance in 2024. Yet the optimism surrounding the blend of disciplined coaching and high‑potential newcomers suggests that Dortmund could once again become a genuine contender. When asked about the future, Kovač smiled and said, "I do not like to speak first and then work. I think the opposite way is better." In summary, Borussia Dortmund stands at a crossroads where a renewed emphasis on youthful exuberance, tactical flexibility, and rigorous physical preparation aims to restore the club's historic brand of exciting football.
The integration of seasoned leaders like Veerman with promising talents such as Konstantelias and Karetsas, under the watchful eye of Niko Kovač and Ole Böck, could see the Yellow Wall roaring once more as the team chases both domestic glory and a return to the Champions League elite.