Borussia Dortmund boss Niko Kovač has made a startlingly personal admission after Pascal Groß’s deadline day departure to Brighton, revealing the veteran’s exit left him wounded.
Speaking to Sky Germany after the deal was confirmed, Kovač didn’t hide his feelings. “This hurt me personally,” the Croatian said. “I valued him as a player, but also as a person.”
Despite the 34 year old midfielder managing just 87 Bundesliga minutes this term, Kovač insisted he was a key figure. However, with Groß targeting a late push for Germany’s 2026 World Cup squad, the coach conceded he couldn’t block the move. “He wants to go to the World Cup; that’s his stated goal. We didn’t want to stand in his way,” Kovač explained.
The exit leaves a hole in BVB’s midfield options, but Kovač promptly ruled out a panic buy. When asked by Sky’s Patrick Berger if highly rated 17 year old Mussa Kaba could step up, the boss poured cold water on the idea. “Mussa hasn’t been with us very often yet… We must not rush things,” he cautioned, adding integration is easier “when you win big.”
It’s a bittersweet end for Groß at Dortmund, a respected pro seeking one last challenge, and a manager left feeling the personal sting of his departure. With the transfer window shut, Kovač must now find solutions from within as Dortmund’s trophy chase on multiple fronts heats up.