As Borussia Dortmund prepares for their season finale in Bremen, head coach Niko Kovac is feeling confident about what his team has accomplished. "We can be happy with what we have achieved," he said, reflecting on a campaign that has seen BVB secure second place in the Bundesliga—their tenth consecutive runner-up finish.
Last weekend's thrilling 3-2 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt locked in that second-place spot, giving Dortmund 70 points on the season. With 36 points in the first half of the campaign and a win in Bremen potentially adding 37 more in the second half, the Black & Yellows are eyeing an even stronger finish. "70 points sounds good, 73 sounds even better," Kovac noted. "I could live with 71, but we're going there to win." If Dortmund reaches 73 points, it would be their best tally in seven years—a testament to the team's resilience and growth under Kovac's leadership.
On the personnel front, Dortmund is looking strong. Felix Nmecha, Karim Adeyemi, and Niklas Süle returned to the squad for the Frankfurt match, while Marcel Sabitzer and Julian Brandt have rejoined the team after individual training schedules. The only absences are captain Emre Can and Ramy Bensebaini, giving Kovac a nearly full-strength squad to close out the season.
Their opponents, Werder Bremen, have had a tougher campaign. Currently sitting in 15th place with 32 points, Bremen secured their Bundesliga survival last weekend despite recent losses to Hoffenheim and Augsburg. This season is shaping up to be their third-worst in history, but survival is survival, and they'll be looking to finish on a high note at home.
Looking back on a packed season, Kovac acknowledged the toll it's taken on his squad. After last year's dramatic final matchday, where Dortmund secured fourth place and Champions League qualification, the team jumped straight into the FIFA Club World Cup in the USA. "The break was very short," he said. "After tomorrow's game, we'll all be going on holiday. We'll take a break and unwind—the mental and physical stress on the players has been considerable."
The players will get a week off before diving into a seven-week training program prescribed by the coaches. It's a well-deserved rest for a team that has consistently delivered in the Bundesliga, and fans can be proud of another strong season from the Black & Yellows.