Dortmund's coach speaks out in defense of Bellingham after a critical mistake

The Der Klassiker clash between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund concluded with a 2-1 win for Bayern, yet the focus was on Jobe Bellingham’s costly mistake.

Specifically, as Dortmund was striving to defend against a second goal, Bellingham mishandled a clearance from Luis Diaz’s cross. The young English player hesitated for a moment, allowing Michel Olise to quickly sprint in and tap the ball into the net, making it 2-0 for Bayern Munich. Although Dortmund scored a consolation goal in the 84th minute, it was not enough to avoid defeat.

After the match, coach Niko Kovac defended his player amid criticism directed at Bellingham. “I cannot blame Jobe,” Kovac stated during the post-match press conference. “He was positioned correctly and reacted appropriately. The opponent’s pass was too fast and precise, and actually, the fact that Jobe didn’t score an own goal in that situation was already commendable.”

The Croatian coach further explained: “When the ball is crossed at such speed, the defender’s first priority is to maintain balance. Jobe instinctively lowered his head to control the ball’s direction, and Olise only needed a brief moment to capitalize. It wasn’t Jobe’s fault, just an unlucky circumstance.”

Kovac’s remarks received widespread support from experts. In reality, Bellingham, the younger brother of star Jude Bellingham, is only 19 and still in a learning phase, gaining experience at Dortmund. He is still regarded as one of the club’s most promising young talents with huge potential for growth.

This defeat allowed Bayern Munich to extend their lead in the Bundesliga title race. However, Kovac emphasized that the team should maintain a positive outlook and continue to trust their young players. “We played well in the second half, especially in terms of spirit and pressing. A small mistake shouldn’t make us lose confidence,” he said.

With Kovac’s support, Jobe Bellingham will surely gain motivation to recover from his error and aim for better performances in Dortmund’s upcoming matches.