Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac says the club had considered signing Ethan Nwaneri for several weeks and has finally secured the midfielder, while Ramy Bensebaini has returned to team training ahead of Saturday’s Bundesliga match against Hoffenheim.
Bensebaini joined his team-mates for the first time on Thursday, although Kovac stressed that the session was deliberately light, with Dortmund two days away from their next fixture.
“Bensebaini trained with the team for the first time today, but the intensity of today’s training was not high,” said Kovac. “We are currently at day minus two before the match, so the training intensity is relatively low, and there is less physical contact. Everything is progressing well so far.”
The defender’s condition will be assessed again on Friday, but Kovac warned that he remains some way from being ready for a Bundesliga match.
“We will see how he recovers tomorrow. He has made some progress, but of course, he is still a long way from being ready to play in a Bundesliga match,” he added. “We will decide tomorrow whether his current recovery level is sufficient for him to be an option for the weekend’s match.”
Enzo and Moussa also took part in their first light training session with the squad, but neither is ready to challenge for a place in the matchday squad.
Nico Schlotterbeck has made further progress by returning to ball work this week. His training remains individual and he is not yet working with opponents or team-mates.
“In the next few days, we will see if we can gradually increase his training volume and let him reintegrate into team training little by little,” Kovac said.
The Dortmund manager said the priority was to avoid any setback in Schlotterbeck’s recovery, despite hoping the defender can return to full team training within the next one or two weeks. He also noted that Schlotterbeck will be suspended for the forthcoming Champions League match.
Nwaneri arrives after lengthy interest
Dortmund moved for Nwaneri after Constantelias suffered an injury, and Kovac praised the club’s recruitment department, specifically Ricken and Buck, for completing the deal quickly.
“After Constantelias’ injury brought us great disappointment, we are very happy that we were able to find a very good replacement so quickly,” said Kovac. “This was obviously a very difficult task, but we ultimately succeeded. I want to congratulate these people.”
The coach described Nwaneri as physically strong and said the England Under-21 player could theoretically, and perhaps practically, feature immediately. Kovac was impressed by the midfielder’s technical ability during his first training session, particularly his understanding of how to use and control the ball.
Dortmund must now help Nwaneri quickly learn the team’s approach in possession and without the ball.
“Of course, now we need to give him a crash course in such a short time, to let him understand how we want the team to play, and what we want to do with and without the ball,” Kovac said.
He added that the club’s coaching and support staff had enough expertise to bring the new signing up to speed, and revealed that Dortmund had already looked at Nwaneri during the previous weeks and months, including last season.
“We had actually considered him in the past few weeks and months, including last season, but it didn’t work out then. Now it has finally succeeded,” said Kovac.
Four-man defence remains an option
Dortmund used a four-man defensive system in their German Cup victory, and Kovac said the tactical variation could be used again. However, he cautioned against reading too much into a match against a German fifth-tier side that defended deep.
The system allowed Dortmund to send an additional player forward in attack. Kovac was pleased with the team’s intensity and concentration throughout the 90 minutes, saying his players showed from the opening minute that they wanted to win.
He said the performance demonstrated the squad’s flexibility but confirmed Dortmund would initially continue with the system they know best. Further training will be required before the alternative shape can become a regular match option, with the winter break also providing an opportunity to refine it.
Kovac is not concerned that Dortmund did not sign a replacement after releasing right-back Jan Koto. Julian Ryerson is available in the position, while Maximilian Beyer can operate on either flank. Svensson’s fitness also gives the manager another option.
“If we really have a need for personnel in this position, then I already have one or two solutions in my mind,” Kovac said. “We can find a way to have someone temporarily play in this position for a relatively short period.”
Mathis-Albert handed route to first-team minutes
Kovac was also pleased with Mathis-Albert’s performance in Tuesday’s match, despite the difference in quality between the two sides. He praised the youngster’s attitude, intensity and focus, as well as his ability in one-on-one situations.
The Dortmund coach said Mathis-Albert actively seeks duels with opponents and can sometimes deal with two players at once, although there remain areas in which he must improve.
“If he continues to develop like this, he will get a lot of playing time this season,” Kovac said. “As for how many minutes that will be, of course, it also depends on himself and the competition within the team.”
Mathis-Albert will have further opportunities in the Youth Champions League, cup matches and potentially with the second team. With Ignazio suspended, there is also a vacant place for Saturday’s game, although Kovac did not confirm whether the youngster would fill it.
The manager said the most important factor in the player’s development would be regular competitive football. Based on his latest performance, Mathis-Albert will remain with the first-team squad and can expect further chances this season.
