Hard for coaches to switch off from pressure, says Kovac

Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac said it is hard for managers to "switch off" amid the demands placed on them.

His comments came after Vincent Kompany was not on the touchline for Bayern Munich's 3-1 win over Freiburg in the Bundesliga after collapsing in training last Friday.

The Belgian is now recovering after being hospitalised following the sudden collapse at the training ground, and though Bayern have not revealed a diagnosis, some reports have suggested a demanding work schedule and lack of sleep led to the incident.

Bayern sporting director Max Eberl said Kompany could be missing for "weeks".

Dortmund and Bayern are fighting it out at the top of the Bundesliga, level on 17 points after seven games, with both yet to suffer defeat in the top flight.

But Kovac, who had already sent his well wishes to Kompany over the weekend, reflected on just how much pressure comes with a job like his.

"You take pretty much everything home with you," Kovac told reporters ahead of Dortmund's DFB-Pokal second-round clash with Werder Bremen.

"None of us can say that we close our office door, get in the car and leave everything behind. You think about things and consider how you can do better. You can't switch that off.

"There is enormous stress when you are fighting relegation. When you are at the top, you are expected to win practically everything, which is almost impossible.

"It is a very, very demanding profession, and one that is certainly intensified by outside pressures."

Dortmund are back in action against Werder on Tuesday as they look to continue their run in the DFB-Pokal – they beat HEBC 5-0 in the first round at the start of September.

However, Dortmund came unstuck against Werder earlier this month in the Bundesliga. Having led 2-0 in the 87th minute, they were pegged back to a 2-2 draw, with former BVB striker Niclas Fullkrug netting a 92nd-minute equaliser.

"It's clear that they're doing a very good job in Bremen," Kovac said of their opponents.

"Even though some key players have left, they've managed to put together a strong unit on the field.

"We controlled the game for 80 to 85 minutes and then let it slip away in the final eight minutes. If we can sustain over 90 minutes what we managed for 85, we'll hopefully win the game as well."

Dortmund’s last three DFB-Pokal matches against Werder have all taken place in the last 16 in 2009, 2019 and 2020, with Bremen advancing each time.