Kovac seeks to sharpen Dortmund´s senses ahead of Lille return leg

Niko Kovac said his Borussia Dortmund team need to sharpen their senses if they are to make it into the Champions League quarter-finals.

Kovac watched on as his side suffered their 10th Bundesliga defeat of the season on Saturday, losing to Augsburg 1-0 thanks to Jeffrey Gouweleeuw’s first-half goal.

Dortmund find themselves languishing in 10th in the German top-flight, seven points adrift of the Champions League places with nine games of the season left.

But they have fared better in Europe, breezing past Sporting CP in the Champions League play-off round before drawing 1-1 with Lille at the Westfalenstadion in their round of 16 first leg last week.

Kovac, however, said last year’s Champions League finalists must improve if they are to emerge victorious at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Wednesday.

“I processed the game on the weekend and addressed some things with the players,” Kovac told a press conference.

“I was clear and very direct and that was necessary after the Augsburg game. It is important to sharpen the senses.”

BVB dominated in their defeat to Augsburg, registering an expected goals (xG) total of 1.23 from their 15 shots, though only one of those were on target.

Indeed, their opponents scored with their only attempt at Gregor Kobel’s net, accumulating an xG tally of just 0.2 while also only boasting 28.2% possession.

Dortmund fans had sharp words for the players following the defeat on Saturday, and Kovac said the supporters’ reaction was understandable.

“It is clear it is not a comfortable feeling. But I said after the game that we have to face it. The reaction of the fans is understandable,” Kovac said.

“That is not the expectation of Dortmund, but it is the reality. We cannot run away from it.

“We have to look facts in the eyes. This means we have to listen to the criticism, draw lessons and not do it like that in the future.

“We have to bring a different performance. But I know we have quality, and we have to draw on it. I am convinced we will show a different face tomorrow. Tomorrow is about a lot and we want to advance.”