Kovac says Dortmund seeking confidence boost
Borussia Dortmund needs victories not only to make up ground on those above it in the Bundesliga, but also to rebuild its fragile confidence, coach Niko Kovac says.
Dortmund welcomes Union Berlin to Signal Iduna Park this weekend, having lost both of its domestic games since Kovac too over in late January.
Dortmund, which made the UEFA Champions League final last season and will face Lille in the Round of 16 this term, is 11th in the Bundesliga, eight points adrift of fourth-placed RB Leipzig.
But Kovac does not believe its hopes of qualifying for the next edition of Europe's premier club competition are over.
"We are not too far behind," Kovac said.
"We have to win the game tomorrow because we need the three points not only to climb up the table but more for us, for the team, for the confidence to feel that we can win games again."
The coach insists his side has made progress in training and team meetings, and he feels it is inevitable that results will turn.
While Dortmund eased into the UEFA Champions League's Round of 16 with a 3-0 aggregate win over Sporting CP, it has struggled in the Bundesliga, with one win in its past seven matches.
"We expect Union will be a very aggressive game," Kovac said. "We play at home and we have to show that we want to win the game.
"We want to win games. We want to be winners. That is why we are here. We know the situation and it is not easy but there is no reason to paint everything black now.
"I believe that after the rain, comes the sun."
