Kovac And Can Express Disappointment Over Borussia Dortmund's Draw Against Lille In Champions League

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Borussia Dortmund's captain, Emre Can, and head coach, Niko Kovac, expressed their dissatisfaction after a 1-1 draw against Lille in the Champions League round of 16 first leg. Despite taking an early lead with Karim Adeyemi's goal, Hakan Arnor Haraldsson's equaliser left Dortmund frustrated. The result means they will need to perform better in the return leg in France.

Can was particularly critical of their second-half display. "It wasn't a good game at all," he stated post-match. He emphasised the lack of intensity and passivity on the ball, urging his team to be more courageous and effective in future matches. "We can and must do much better," he added.

Kovac echoed Can's sentiments regarding their performance after halftime. He noted that Dortmund lost control and failed to manage the game's tempo effectively. "We had no grip in the second half," Kovac explained, highlighting how easily they surrendered possession and allowed the match to become end-to-end.

The head coach pointed out that Lille didn't create many scoring opportunities aside from their equaliser. However, he remains confident that Dortmund can address these issues before the second leg. "I am confident that we will rectify all our shortcomings," Kovac assured fans.

Kovac stressed the importance of replicating their first-half performance in the upcoming match in France. His message to the players was clear: maintain control and composure throughout the game. The winner of this tie will advance to face either Benfica or Barcelona in the quarter-final.

Dortmund's challenge now is to improve their gameplay for the second leg against Lille. Both Can and Kovac have identified key areas for improvement, focusing on maintaining intensity and controlling possession better. Their ability to adapt will be crucial as they aim for a spot in the quarter-finals.