Dortmund must move on from City loss, says Kovac
Niko Kovic has urged his Borussia Dortmund players to put their Manchester City defeat behind them quickly as they prepare to face Hamburg on Sunday (AEDT) in the Bundesliga.
Dortmund suffered just its second defeat of the season on Thursday (AEDT), losing 4-1 to the Premier League side at Etihad Stadium in the UEFA Champions League.
Kovac's side could move up to second in its domestic league ahead of the international break, however, and the head coach has enjoyed his previous meetings with Hamburg.
He has managed more Bundesliga matches without a single loss against Hamburg than against any other current Bundesliga coach, winning one and drawing three of his encounters.
As a player, Kovac scored 12 goals in 55 Bundesliga appearances for the Red Shorts, more than for any other club.
After Dortmund's heavy defeat in Manchester, Kovac is determined to enter the November international break on a high note.
"[We must] quickly put [it] behind us," Kovac said.
"[It] can also help us. We want to develop further and must measure ourselves against the best. We are good, but we need to keep improving.
"Personally, I know the atmosphere in the Volkspark well.
"Tomorrow we want to secure a win before the international break, to have not only three points but also a good feeling for the days after."
Since its 4-0 win against Mainz on 6 October (AEST), Hamburg has lost each of its past three Bundesliga fixtures.
It is 13th on the league table, just two points above 16th-placed Borussia Monchengladbach.
