Dortmund eliminated Eintracht Frankfurt in a penalty shootout in the German Cup. They will play Augsburg away from home in this round of the Bundesliga. Coach Kovac was interviewed at the pre-match press conference and talked about Augsburg coach Sandro Wagner, the team's possible rotation and other topics, and he praised central defender Valdemar Anton.
Kovac also revealed that Niklas Sule suffered a minor injury in the cup match against Frankfurt. At the same time, Rami Bensebaini has returned from injury and has returned to team training and is expected to play against Augsburg.
- The away game against Augsburg
was just like the difficult cup match we just experienced in Frankfurt. No matter which away game we go to in the Bundesliga, it’s not easy, and Augsburg will also bring us a tough challenge. I wouldn't underestimate this opponent. They are a Bundesliga team with extraordinary quality.
Obviously their current situation is not easy, but this by no means means that the game will become easy, but quite the opposite. Our game rhythm is very similar to Augsburg's, the only difference is that we just experienced 120 minutes of fierce fighting. This away game is destined to not be easy.
——Valdemar-Anton
Anton is undoubtedly a truly indispensable mainstay in our team. Whether he is deployed in the center or on the right, he is perfectly capable. I think he can take on more responsibility when playing as a centre-back because he can direct the other defenders better and press forward.
I am very satisfied with him, he is simply an iron man. This comes from his healthy attitude and excellent physical condition. Only by maintaining the highest competitive level can we withstand the intensity of the schedule, which is one game every three or four days. I hope to replace him early to rest, but this needs to be based on a solid lead. And that's hard to do when the games are always so close.
-Duranville
After three or four months of recovery, it is crucial for him to get game time now. He will definitely gain practical experience through the U23 echelon. We have medical clearance and it could be in place in the coming days, weeks, or as soon as this weekend. He needs to play with the second team to regain his fitness.
He is a player with superb skills and comprehensive abilities, capable of playing on the wing, at the eight position and making breakthroughs in the rib space. He now needs to re-establish his grasp of defensive distance, spatial awareness and the pace of the game.
——Personnel conditions and the Frankfurt battle
Our overall recovery is in good condition. Some players have consumed a lot of energy. The only problem currently is Süle, whose toe is a bit swollen. The other players are in good condition. The recovery of Emre Can and Julian Duranville also continues to improve, and other players are fully healthy.
Rami Bensebaini participated in joint training with us today. I think there is no problem with him. He can travel with the team tomorrow and play in tomorrow night's game.
——Goalkeeper Kerber made many great saves in the away game against Augsburg
Kerber did have a very outstanding moment here. I know he has shown extraordinary strength before. There may have been some problems during this period, but these were not his personal responsibility, but systemic problems of the entire team.
This proves that we have an outstanding goalkeeper. I think the key for a goalkeeper is to be able to convey calmness and stability and make the saves he is supposed to make. He doesn't have to make a big save, and he's doing that perfectly at the moment.
——Dort lineup rotation
I think this is normal. Stuttgart replaced as many as ten players in this round of the German Cup. You have to do this if you want to maintain the intensity of the game. Every player must be given a chance.
This is not out of compromise, on the contrary, because we have a deep lineup. We have the capital to be flexible and I'm taking advantage of that.
——Augsburg coach Wagner is in a worrying situation
Obviously, this is the world we live in, or more accurately, this is the football world. When you succeed, everything goes smoothly; when you fail, everything goes haywire. As a coach, I understand each of my peers’ situations.
Although there are many types of coaches, they can generally only be divided into two categories: those who have been fired and those who are about to be fired. This is the nature of our profession, so I understand Sandro. But our focus is always only on ourselves and we have no time to take into account the other 17 teams.
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