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Kovac took over Dortmund during the 2024-2025 season, replacing Nuri Sahin.

Since Kovac took charge, Dortmund has won 32 Bundesliga matches, a tally bettered only by Bayern Munich (38). It has scored 107 goals while conceding just 52 in return, a joint-league low in that time, among ever-present teams. They have kept a joint-high 19 clean sheets.

However, Dortmund has not managed to win a trophy under Kovac, and lost 2-1 to Bayern in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup last week.

But ahead of his team hosting Hamburg this weekend, Kovac defended the work he has done at Dortmund.

"If someone likes my style, this is up to you," Kovac said.

"For me, we are successful. And I think that, together, since we arrived, we did a very good job.

"As a coach, I think you need to see what kind of players you have, what situation you have, and you must always adapt.

"I arrived in a bad situation. The squad was planned with a back four, but after two or three games we saw it was not working, so we changed to a back five.

"So we worked on this. With those physical abilities, you're immediately a better football player."

Dortmund finished second in the Bundesliga last season, 16 points behind champion Bayern.

Dortmund president Hans-Joachim Watzke said: "Well, you have to be honest: we had a good Bundesliga season last year and picked up 73 points.

"In the past, that would have been enough to win the title. Today, that's no longer the case because Bayern dominate everything.

"At Borussia Dortmund, there's only so much we can do to change that, because the gap between Germany's top two clubs has become so vast economically. So we shouldn't kid ourselves: Bayern Munich are overwhelming favourites."