Niko Kovac eyes Dortmund victory against struggling Tottenham

Speaking at his pre-match press conference at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Kovac stressed that Dortmund could not afford distractions ahead of a crucial UEFA Champions League group match. "What matters most is our performance," the Dortmund coach said. "We must ignore everything else and focus on what we can control."

Dortmund travelled to London knowing a win would put them in a strong position to secure direct qualification for the last 16, after dropping points in their previous draw with Bodo/Glimt. Tottenham, level on points with Dortmund in the group, arrived under pressure after a difficult run of domestic form, but Kovac refused to view that as an advantage.

"They may appear to have problems, but that does not matter to us," he said. "Whoever plays for them will give everything. They have quality, and if we want to win, we need a top-level performance."

Tottenham hold personal memories for Kovac, who oversaw Bayern Munich's 7-2 win there in October 2019, but he brushed aside any talk of the past. "I have good memories, yes, but now it is only about tomorrow's match," he added.

Kovac also addressed the atmosphere inside the stadium, suggesting a fast start could influence the crowd. "If we begin aggressively, that can affect the mood," he said. "But it is our job to silence the support."

On team news, Marcel Sabitzer missed the trip due to a calf injury, while Rami Bensebaini returned after recovering from flu and was available to start. Kovac confirmed Aaron Anselmino travelled with the squad to remain involved with the group.

For Kovac, the message was simple: Dortmund's focus had to stay firmly on their own performance.