Dortmund coach Kovac confirmed at a pre-match press conference that German international Schlottbeck was in good shape after a long-term injury and will start against Mainz on the weekend.

About your coaching philosophy

No effort will bring you rewards. I believe that without investment, there will be no reward. All in all, you have to give a lot. We, like other clubs, have ambitious goals, so every player must do his best. As a coach, you also need to know how to give back to the players, which is the best way to win their support. So when it comes to holidays, I am happy to "play this card".

We discussed this issue in the summer about Dortmund's defense. For top teams, it is crucial to minimize goals conceded as much as possible. We conceded 51 goals last season in the league, which is too many. Our defense is at a high level now. But defense must start from the frontcourt, and I have been working hard to instill this concept into our forwards. The forwards are doing a great job in this. The 1-0 score may not seem like a big advantage, but like Adeyemi, he not only scored goals, but also was very active in the defense. This is a systematic project, and we will also conduct special training for groups in different locations.

Will Schlottbeck get a break?

We must be cautious. The first game of returning from injury is always the easiest to go because you will have an adrenaline rush, but the real test is behind. Every coach wants a chance to rotate players. He will definitely start, which is clear. If the game situation allows, I will replace him and rest.

Is Matthias Albert standing out?

We have been following him. The U19 team won the game in Turin, so we took him to the Club World Cup. It's too early for him now, and everything must be progressed step by step. His progress is obvious to all, but it still needs to be maintained. If he can continue to develop like this, his future will undoubtedly be bright.

We are all very upset about the role of captain Emre Jane, who is unable to play, but we must be patient. He is a crucial member of the team, and even if he is unable to play, he is still performing his duties as a captain. Like Brandt and Schlottbeck, he is very active in the team. I am very satisfied with him personally and the leadership style he has shown. It is natural to let him be the captain.

About Fabio Silva

Fabio is a Portuguese international. If he is healthy, he would have been selected for the national team in September. His abilities have not only been recognized by us, but also by the head coach of the national team. He is not only able to be a tactical fulcrum, but also a forward with excellent skills and stable ball possession. He can inject vitality into the team, is fast, and is good at rushing into the space behind the defense line. We hope to have such players to enrich the team's offensive combination. I hope this young man can finally display his talents here.

About opponent Mainz

They have a good momentum, although the season may not start as expected. This is a very difficult opponent. Even if we won 3-0 last season, it was not easy to win. Their running was very active, and there were always many players who were involved in the penalty area. I expected this to be a tough battle. But I also hope that we can continue our winning streak in Mainz with confidence.

Regarding the team's personnel situation

Duranville and Emre Jan are still recovering. Anselmino participated in some training, but had not yet recovered to 100% form, and he could not catch up on the weekend's game. Jule and Fabio Silva increased their training volume this week, but have not participated in the joint training throughout the whole process. We will evaluate it again tomorrow to see if they can make it to the big list. Gilasi's thigh is just a flaw, and there is no problem with her appearance on the weekend. Schlottbeck's recovery was good, which made us all feel relieved.