Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovač was satisfied with his team’s performance following Saturday’s 2-2 Klassiker draw, highlighting the defensive discipline, tactical adjustments, and mentality his players demonstrated against the Bundesliga leaders.
Kovač pointed to Dortmund managing 50% possession in Munich as evidence of how well his team competed, while also praising their ability to limit Bayern’s opportunities for extended periods. Although Dortmund came under increasing pressure in the second
half, they refused to abandon their approach, even after Bayern took the lead.
The Dortmund coach also explained the tactical thinking behind his decision to deploy a back four, specifically highlighting the need to push higher up the pitch and track Bayern’s attacking movements, particularly the full-backs who frequently move into central areas.
“If you have 50 percent possession here in Munich, it means you’ve done a lot right. We didn’t allow them much. We obviously ended up under more pressure in the second half, but the team continued to believe in themselves even after going behind. We played with a back four today, trying to attack higher and follow Bayern’s runs, especially the full-backs who always come inside. The guys did a great job there. Coming back twice here in Munich isn’t easy, so I believe we’ve taken a deserved point today,” Kovač said (as captured by FCBayern.com).
For Dortmund, rescuing a point after twice falling behind at the Allianz Arena represents a positive result. Kovač will undoubtedly be pleased with his team’s resilience, although Bayern will feel they left two valuable points on the table.
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