'We deserved to lose' - Niko Kovac delivers damning Borussia Dortmund assessment

Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac did not hold back in his assessment following a 1-0 defeat to Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League. Fredrik Sjovold's 52nd-minute strike was enough to seal the points for the Norwegian side on a frustrating night for the Bundesliga giants.

This result marked a disappointing start to the tactician's tenure following his recent contract extension until 2029. Kovac accepted full responsibility for his rotation decisions, admitting that his side lacked the necessary passion and intensity to compete throughout the opening period.

We basically weren't in the game until after conceding. In the first half, we didn't play with the passion, intensity or football that we need in order to win. Niko Kovac

Despite a late surge following a quadruple substitution on the hour mark, Dortmund were unable to break down the resilient opposition, with goalkeeper Nikita Haikin thwarting efforts from Felix Nmecha and Ethan Nwaneri. Kovac noted that his team was too predictable in possession and failed to attack the spaces behind the defensive line effectively.

Dortmund have now lost four consecutive away games in Europe’s premier competition, matching a club record. The focus now shifts to Saturday's crucial Bundesliga clash against Union Berlin, where Kovac has demanded an immediate response from his players to protect their strong start to the domestic season.