The Borussia Dortmund head coach has downplayed the impact a team from Africa could have at the FIFA Club World Cup ahead of their clash against Mamelodi Sundowns.
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Ka Bo Yellow became the first side among the CAF representatives to achieve a victory in the newly expanded iteration of the global spectacle. They managed to beat Ulsan HD 1–0 to go top of Group F, ahead of the likes of Dortmund and Fluminense.
Despite Sundowns’ victory, the German giants’ head coach, Niko Kovac, insisted that it is the sides from Europe and South America that tend to make a big impression at the competition.
"You can already see that South American and European teams will shape the course of this tournament. I’ve already seen some great matches — PSG vs. Atletico Madrid, Palmeiras vs. Porto,” the Croat told DAZN.
"You can tell how intense these games are and the level of quality on display. Despite the timing of the Club World Cup, the level of football is very high.
"It feels like South America approaches this tournament very differently. The excitement in Brazil, Argentina, or Mexico is much greater than in Germany or Europe in general. Personally, I think this is a really important event, and we want to approach it the right way."
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"I hope that Germany will also come to appreciate the value of this competition because it’s vital to compete with the best teams from other continents. I expect South American sides to play a very important role. These teams have incredible quality, and we will definitely see that.”
