Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck praised manager Niko Kovac’s decision switch to a back three, calling it a key factor behind the team’s recent good run of results. Making his return from injury, the German defender said he feels something positive is building and suggested Dortmund can mount a serious title challenge against Bayern Munich.

Kovac’s appointment and his tactical change

Kovac initially stuck with the 4-2-3-1 system used by his predecessor when he took charge of the first-team in January, but a poor run of four defeats in six games, including a heavy 4-0 loss to Barcelona, forced him to rethink. He then switched to a 3-4-2-1 formation later in the season, a change that became a turning point for his side. Since then, Dortmund have climbed into the top four for the 2024-25 season and have remained unbeaten in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League across last season and this season.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSchlotterbeck’s comments on the win

Schlotterbeck feels Kovac's change has laid the groundwork for something special at Dortmund, telling : "Yes, something good! I think since we, funnily enough, switched to a back three, we haven't lost a game."

He then spoke about the challenging Bayern for the title "In my three years at Borussia Dortmund, it was important to stay close in the first half of the season. We were often behind, and now it's important to stay close to Bayern, to march ahead, because then maybe something will develop, and at Borussia Dortmund, you're there to win something.Bayern took the lead yesterday. We're trying to stay close, and if we hadn't had those ten minutes in Pauli, we would have four out of four. But that's the way it is. And now it's a matter of continuing to perform in Mainz, and then it's always going step by step."

Dortmund’s win over Wolfsburg

Dortmund kept things tight at the back and secured a clean sheet in their 1-0 win over Wolfsburg. The decisive moment came from a brilliantly executed counter-press, as Dortmund won the ball back and Karim Adeyemi latched onto the loose ball before unleashing a precise 25-yard strike into the net.

AFPSchlotterbeck and Dortmund’s upcoming challenge

Schlotterbeck will hope that with his full return from injury he can make a valuable contribution to Dortmund’s title push, strengthened by Kovac’s tactical change, as they look to mount a serious challenge against Bayern. Dortmund face Mainz this weekend in their next test