FIFACWC: Borussia Dortmund should prevent Sundowns’ attacks - Kovac

Sundowns players relax ahead of the clash:

Photo Credit: Mamelodi Sundowns media.

Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac says his strategy is to prevent Mamelodi Sundowns from playing their possession-based football when they clash at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup on Saturday, June 21.

Dortmund go into the match determined to register their first win for Group F after starting the tournament with a 0-0 draw against Brazil side Fluminense on June 17. The story is different with the Betway Premiership landlords, who stunned Korean outfit, Ulsan Hyundai 1-0 on Wednesday.

Kovac warned his Bundesliga said that Miguel Cardoso’s men can be handy if granted acres of space to string passes.

“Sundowns are a team that has dominated everything in South Africa in recent years and lost the Champions League final in Africa a few weeks ago. A team that wants to play attractive football,” the coach said.

The coach for the German side said he watched the Pretoria-based side playing in the CAF Champions League trophy earlier this month when they lost 3-2 on aggregate over two legs to Pyramids FC of Egypt.

Based on his observation, Kovac stressed the need to prevent Sundowns from playing their free-flowing football on Saturday.

“For us, that means we have to prevent that and need possession. It's going to be bloody hot tomorrow [Saturday]. And when the sun shines in from the south at 12 noon, you have to make sure you have a lot of possession. Because if you're chasing the music, it's going to cost you unnecessary energy,” he warned.

Sundowns top Group F with three points while Dortmund and Fluminense share a point apiece. Ulsan Hyundai anchor the group with no points.