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Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac has expressed confidence in 20-year-old centre-back Filippo Mané to start in this weekend’s DFB-Pokal fixture if need be. Dortmund are once again short-staffed in central defense thanks to injuries to Niklas Süle and captain Emré Can. Kovac noted that both Mané and wingback Julian Ryerson were candidates to fill Süle’s slot against Rot-Weiß Essen on Monday.
“I have complete confidence in him,” Kovac said of the newly promoted youngster while speaking at a Friday press conference. “BVB is a club that also relies on young players. I think he can do it. If nothing unexpected happens in training, he will be given the nod and we are optimistic.“
Should he start, Mané will play on the right-hand-side of the back-three alongside Ramy Bensebaini (left) and Waldemar Anton (central). Kovac didn’t comment much on other personnel choices behind the defense, noting that he felt there had been plenty of healthy competition during training camp.
“The guys are making it very difficult for me, but I’m also happy that I have a bit of a headache now,” Kovac said. “It would be bad if it were the other way around and too easy. There will be tough decisions to make. That’s clear.“
GGFN | Peter Weis
