Niko Kovac praises Carney Chukwuemeka after impressive Dortmund start

Carney Chukwuemeka has earned praise from Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac after delivering an impressive performance in the club’s 2-1 Champions League victory over Sabah FK.

The 23-year-old Austrian midfielder made his first start of the season in Tuesday’s encounter in Azerbaijan, taking advantage of the opportunity to impress after Konstantinos Karetsas was ruled out with a ligament injury.

Chukwuemeka partnered Felix Nmecha and Joey Veerman in midfield, with the trio’s technical quality and ability to handle pressure drawing particular praise from Kovač.

“He did really well,” the Dortmund coach said after the match. He added that the midfield combination featured players who were comfortable on the ball and capable of making good decisions in difficult situations.

Chukwuemeka made an immediate impact, helping Dortmund establish an attacking rhythm during the opening stages. He created several promising opportunities and was involved in the build-up to a number of dangerous moves.

His contribution was not limited to attacking play, however. Kovač also highlighted the midfielder’s defensive commitment, praising his willingness to compete for possession and engage in challenges.

“I also thought he did well defensively. He really made an effort and sought out challenges,” the coach explained.

The Dortmund manager also discussed his tactical decision to deploy two attacking midfielders alongside two centre-forwards, Serhou Guirassy and Fabio Silva.

Kovač believed the approach caused significant problems for Sabah’s back four, particularly because Silva’s movement created space for Guirassy to exploit.

“By playing two attacking midfielders and two centre-forwards, we caused the opposition major problems, especially with their back four,” he explained.

The tactical adjustment helped Dortmund secure an important victory, with Guirassy scoring both goals to end the club’s run of three matches without a win.

For Chukwuemeka, the performance represents a valuable opportunity to strengthen his case for more regular involvement in the starting lineup. The midfielder has faced competition for places this season, making his display in Azerbaijan particularly significant.

Kovač must now decide whether to retain the same midfield combination for Dortmund’s upcoming fixtures. Chukwuemeka’s latest performance has given the coach another reason to consider the Austrian as a regular option.