Coaches react: Kovač hails comeback, Werner frustrated after Leipzig collapse

The contrasting emotions of both coaches reflected the dramatic nature of the match, as Dortmund fought back late to earn a point and Leipzig were left ruing missed opportunities and costly late decisions.

BVB coach Niko Kovač's comments after the 2-2 draw:

Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovač admitted his side struggled badly in the first half but praised their response after the break to secure a deserved point: “We didn’t understand how to defend Leipzig’s attacks down their left, our right side in the first half,” Kovač said. “We didn’t manage it at all. But in the second half, we showed our mentality again and deserved the draw. That was good.”

Kovač also strongly criticized the officiating regarding a controversial penalty incident involving Karim Adeyemi: “Honestly, that’s a clear mistake,” he said. “It’s a clear penalty. We have to get that. The referee may not see it, that’s fine. But then it has to be seen in the studio and communicated. Adeyemi is hit, and nothing is given. That’s a clear wrong decision.”

Despite his frustration, Kovač acknowledged the overall outcome reflected the balance of the match: “In the end, we fought for the 2-2, and despite the wrong decision, it’s a deserved draw,” he said. “Leipzig won the first half. We were the better team in the second 45 minutes. That’s okay.”

RB Leipzig coach Ole Werner's comments after the 2-2 draw:

Leipzig coach Ole Werner, meanwhile, focused on his team’s inability to manage the closing stages: “We didn’t make clear decisions in the last 10 minutes,” Werner said. “Our impulses from the bench weren’t effective, Dortmund’s were. That was the decisive difference in the second half.”

Werner pointed to a lack of maturity as the key factor behind Leipzig dropping points: “We talk about maturity, about making the right decisions and quality,” he said. “I can only praise my team for the performance, but we couldn’t win the game because we are still too naive.”

The Leipzig coach also backed the frustration expressed by his players: “I understand David Raum’s anger,” Werner said. “We’re all frustrated because we didn’t reward ourselves.”

Despite Leipzig’s strong performance, Werner made clear that performances alone are no longer enough: “We presented ourselves well, but I’m tired of talking about good performances and good football when we only get one point instead of three,” he said. “You can see certain patterns repeating late in games. I expect development and learning so we can win these games in the future.”