Kovač's plans for BVB success

A 1-0 win over Rot-Weiss Essen in the DFB Cup first round got Dortmund up and running this season, but in fairly sluggish fashion. That stumble out the gate carried into their Bundesliga opener, where they squandered a 3-1 lead to draw 3-3 with St. Pauli.

It was not what Dortmund had hoped for, especially having finished the 2024/25 campaign so well, but a 3-0 victory at home to Union Berlin was much more like it. They were quick and direct in attack, ruthless in front of goal. Crucially, they were also rock-solid in defence and earned a well-deserved clean sheet to go with the three points.

Kovač will have been pleased that his team appear to have found their feet, and will now challenge his team to get up to full speed after the international break.

It is something which happened naturally when the German-born Croatian took over last year, his Dortmund charges hitting the ground running as they turned mid-table mediocrity into UEFA Champions League qualification and Kovač earned a contract extension until 2027. 

"Conviction, intensity and passion," is what sporting director Sebastian Kehl recently attributed to his manager and that has certainly rubbed off on the players. None more so than Serhou Guirassy. The Senegal striker now operates on a different level and his double against Union takes him to three in two league games thus far, building on a remarkable run under Kovač at the end of last season.

Watch: All of Serhou Guirassy's Bundesliga goals 

He scored 21 Bundesliga goals last year, plus 13 in 14 Champions League matches and four more in the FIFA Club World Cup. No-one had more in the Champions League and Guirassy has now scored 24 times in 27 games under Kovač.

His importance, and emergence as a world-class centre-forward, hasn't gone unnoticed by his coach, who said: "Bayern have Harry Kane, City have [Erling] Haaland, we have Serhou Guirassy." 

Julian Brandt added of his top-scoring teammate: "He's very reliable, you can count on him scoring at least one goal. He's a good guy, always wants to develop more, and that's the main thing."

Watch: Dortmund's crazy transfer window

Dortmund have also moved to strengthen their side this summer, adding even more quality to their team as they look to challenge for trophies both at home and abroad. Jobe Bellingham, Fábio Silva and Aarón Anselmino have all joined, while previously temporary agreements with Yan Couto, Carney Chukwuemeka and Daniel Svensson have all been made permanent.

Combining those new faces with the experience in the side and being able to tie down the futures of such a successful loan trio last year has only strengthened Kovač's hand. As a result, a foundation has been laid, in line with their coach's blueprint for success.

All-in-all, it makes a compelling case for Dortmund to emerge as genuine title contenders and add to the trophy cabinet at the Signal Iduna Park.