Niko Kovac wants Borussia Dortmund to view their Bundesliga game against RB Leipzig as a Champions League match, hoping some of their success will rub off in the league. (More Football News)
Dortmund earned their place in the Champions League quarter-finals with Wednesday's 2-1 win at Lille, securing a 3-2 aggregate victory, b𝄹ut it has been a completely different story in the Bundesliga.
With just three victories from their last 10 league matches, Dortmund have dropped to 10th place and are at serious risk of missing out🥃 on Champions League football next season.
They are currently on 35 points, with seven points separating them and fo♏urth-placed Eintracht Frankf🍃urt.
In fact, with six points from his last five Bundesliga matches in charge, Kovac has made t🧸he worst start of any Dortmund coach since Jurgen Rober in 2007 (both🌳 W2 L3).
They have collected just 10 points from their first eight matches in the second half of ♔thꦦe season, their worst return since 2008-09.
"If it was that easy, we would do it," Kovac told a press conference on Friday when asked whether he would ౠconsider playing the Champions League anthem iꦗn the team's changing room to inspire his players.
"I am convinced that the team knows🉐 that tomorrow we play against Leipzig in the league but it is a Champions League team, a tough opponent who has to perform well.
"I think this will be additional motivation to play exactly as we played in Lille. To show that relentless commitment, that togetherness, everything tওhat made﷽ us strong. That is the prerequisite for a successful game."
With only one win from their last nine leagꦗue games, Leipzig have also dropped down the pecking order in the Bundesliga and are sixth on 3🔴9.
However, they have a strong record against Dortmund, winning six of their last eight games against them in all competitions (L2), including all four home fixtures since sum𒅌mer 2021.
Dortmund did win the reverse f🎃ixture 2-1, but were last victorious in Leipzig back in January 2021 (3-1).
"Leipzig are not where they want to be. One win,ജ six draws and two defeats," Kovac added.
"I think Leipzig are a strong team. They did n꧑🌠ot play during the week so they are fresher."
