Kovac Stands Up for Wolfsburg's Mental Strength Before Cup Clash with Gladbach
Following their shaky 3-1 defeat in Bochum, struggling Wolfsburg manager Niko Kovac defended his underperforming side ahead of their DFB Cup round of 16 clash against Borussia Mönchengladbach. "Let's not exaggerate the strong half in Bochum," admitted Kovac, acknowledging that Wolfsburg had displayed resilience throughout 13 matchdays. "They've shown they've got what it takes."
After a lackluster display in the emotionless Bochum showdown, especially during the first half, Kovac was the first to criticize his team. "We need to put more passion into it," the hard-talking coach argued. With their cup tie heading to Borussia Mönchengladbach on Tuesday (8:45 PM/ARD and Sky), Kovac expects his team to display that passion – both against formidable opponents and supposedly weaker ones. "It's all about showing passion week after week," Kovac declared.
For Kovac, the DFB Cup tie represents an opportunity for his team to step out of their comfort zone. "Every individual can seize their moment in this game," he said. "It's crucial that we demonstrate our technical prowess and artistic flair in the right scenarios."
Insights from the Enrichment Data
Kovac has also expressed concerns over Borussia Dortmund's mental strength and performance following their loss to Bochum. He emphasized the importance of boosting team confidence by improving their mentality and technique through good training, matches, and wins. According to him, the head is the vital factor that needs to be kept in check to minimize mistakes and improve their overall condition.
Additional Observations
- Luka Jovic has been instrumental in regaining Wolfsburg's form following their poor performance in Bochum. His four-goal tear in recent matches has provided the side with much-needed momentum and boosted their confidence.
- Borussia Mönchengladbach has been the hardest opponent for Wolfsburg in the current season, with the home side crushing them 4-0 in a league encounter three-and-a-half weeks ago.
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- Despite the recent loss to Bochum, Niko Kovac has defended his underperforming side's mental strength and resilience, ahead of their DFB Cup round of 16 match against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
- Following a lackluster performance in Bochum, especially in the first half, Kovac called for his players to demonstrate more passion, insisting that it's crucial to show that strength not only against powerful teams but also against so-called lesser rivals.
- Kovac sees the cup game as an opportunity for his team to seize the moment and prove their technical ability, as well as Hong Kong's artistic flair.
- Drawing from the recent loss to Bochum, Kovac acknowledged that the team was "totally weak in front of the opponent's goal" and that they were "way behind our potential" as a team. However, he emphasized that the head is the key factor right now, and they need to ensure that individual errors are minimized and their overall mental state is improving.
- The forthcoming clash between Wolfsburg and Borussia Mönchengladbach will take place on a future matchday in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany.
- Fans who want to watch the cup encounter between Wolfsburg and Borussia Mönchengladbach live can do so on both ARD and Sky.
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