Borussia Dortmund to extend Niko Kovac's contract despite Gladbach loss and fan criticism

Key facts

• Borussia Dortmund lost 0–1 at Borussia Mönchengladbach on Sunday.
• Club plans to open contract extension talks with Niko Kovac in the coming weeks.
• Kovac's current contract runs until 2027.
• Dortmund's sporting director Ole Book expressed strong support for Kovac after the match.
• Waldemar Anton said Gladbach were 'much more intense than us' and won crucial challenges.
• Kovac admitted the performance was 'not a good performance' and lacked physicality.
• Dortmund remains second in the Bundesliga, five points clear of RB Leipzig with two matches left.
• Kovac replaced Nuri Sahin in February 2025 and secured Champions League qualification.

A defeat that failed to shake the board's faith

Borussia Dortmund's 0–1 loss at Borussia Mönchengladbach on Sunday was a flat, listless display that cost the club the chance to mathematically secure second place in the Bundesliga. Yet the result has done nothing to weaken the club's resolve to keep head coach Niko Kovac in charge. Club officials, led by new sporting director Ole Book, plan to open talks with Kovac's management in the coming weeks to extend his contract, which currently runs until 2027. The move is intended to end the persistent coaching speculation that has surrounded the club.

Book's unequivocal backing after the final whistle

Speaking after the defeat, Book made the club's position clear. 'We have already clearly expressed our confidence in Niko. I really, really enjoy working with him,' he said. 'I was asked about this even before today's match and spoke very positively about it. The defeat has certainly not changed that in any way.' Book's statement was notable for its timing: delivered immediately after a match in which Dortmund failed to register a single shot on target for long stretches and were out-fought in almost every duel.

Players and coach admit to a lack of intensity

Centre-back Waldemar Anton offered a blunt assessment. 'Gladbach were much more intense than us. They won the crucial challenges in every position,' he told DAZN. 'We needed a collective response to their higher tempo—perhaps a tougher challenge or a shot that poses a threat—but we had far too few of those today.' Kovac himself did not shy away from criticism. 'It was not a good performance. Gladbach were sharp, aggressive and fierce. You could really see today that there was a lot at stake for Gladbach and apparently not so much for us,' the Croatian said. 'Gladbach defended sharply and intensely in one-on-one situations all over the pitch; they didn't give up a single ball. To get into a game like that, you first have to hold your own physically.'

A mixed record since Kovac's arrival

Kovac took over from the sacked Nuri Sahin in early February 2025 and guided Dortmund into the Champions League with a strong late-season surge. This term, domestic results have largely been positive; second place is within reach, suggesting a promising final table. However, early exits from the Champions League knockout stage and the DFB-Pokal round of 16 have cast a shadow over the campaign. Critics argue that Dortmund rarely impress under the Croatian, who signed his current deal last August and recently rebutted that charge. The loss at Gladbach, while not damaging to league position, reinforced the perception that the team lacks a consistent identity.

Second place still secure, but opportunity missed

Although Dortmund had already secured Champions League qualification, a victory would have confirmed second place; that opportunity now slips to the final two matches. Second place remains secure, five points clear of RB Leipzig, with two matches left: a home date with Eintracht Frankfurt and a trip to Werder Bremen. Kovac's side still controls its own destiny for a runner-up finish, but the manner of the defeat raised questions about the team's mentality in less pressurized fixtures.

Contract talks as a signal of stability

By initiating extension talks now, Dortmund's hierarchy hopes to quell the constant coaching speculation that swirls around the club. The decision to back Kovac publicly, even after a defeat that exposed familiar frailties, suggests the board values continuity over short-term reactions. The coming weeks will reveal whether the extension is finalized before the season ends, and whether Kovac can translate the board's faith into a more convincing style of play.

The bottom line

• Dortmund will open contract extension talks with Niko Kovac despite a 0–1 loss to Gladbach.
• Sporting director Ole Book publicly reaffirmed confidence in Kovac after the match.
• Players and coach admitted the team lacked intensity and physicality against Gladbach.
• Dortmund remains second, five points clear of RB Leipzig, with two matches left.
• Kovac's tenure includes Champions League qualification but early cup exits and inconsistent performances.
• The club aims to end coaching speculation by securing Kovac's long-term future.