Kovac Addresses Concerns Over Svensson and Karetsas Before Villarreal Match

Borussia Dortmund stepped onto the training pitch on Monday without Daniel Svensson and Konstantinos Karetsas – and the sight was enough to raise a few eyebrows on the eve of a Champions League opener.

Niko Kovac wasted no time putting out the fire.

Both players, he insisted, are fine. No drama, no late injury twist before Villarreal arrive.

"That was completely normal today. It can happen from time to time that we let one or two players recover in the locker room or in the gym. Both are in perfect health and are options for the game," the Dortmund head coach said at his pre-match press conference.

So while the pair skipped the main session, they remain in the frame for selection on Tuesday night. It was a reminder that, at this stage of the season, managing legs can be as important as sharpening tactics.

Mané blow after Hoffenheim thriller

The good news on Svensson and Karetsas was balanced by a more sobering update on Filippo Mané.

The defender, forced off in the first half of Dortmund’s wild 3-2 Bundesliga win over Hoffenheim at the weekend, will miss the Villarreal tie with a muscle injury. A setback, but not a long-term one.

"We're assuming nothing else will happen before the international break. He'll certainly return after that. Unfortunately, things like this are just part of the game. In terms of training load and training management, everything was top-notch; he had really good endurance and strength numbers," Kovac explained.

The message was clear: this was misfortune, not mismanagement.

Suspensions bite, injuries linger

Kovac’s options at the back and in midfield remain stretched.

Nico Schlotterbeck and Ramy Bensebaini, both edging forward in their respective recoveries, are unavailable due to suspension. Their progress on the training ground will have to stay just that for now.

Long-term absentees Giannis Konstantelias and Emre Can are also out of contention, trimming the squad further on a night when experience and control could prove vital.

So Dortmund head into their Champions League opener with key pillars missing, others carefully wrapped in cotton wool, and the usual early-season juggling act in full swing. How they balance that against Villarreal’s challenge will say plenty about the depth – and resilience – of Kovac’s new regime.