Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac has expressed his concerns about his side' FIFA Club World Club opponents, including Mamelodi Sundowns.
The prestigious tournament, now expanded to feature 32 teams, will take place in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025.
Dortmund have been drawn into Group F alongside Brazilian giants Fluminense, South Korea’s Ulsan HD, and South African heavyweights Masandawana.
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Although the Bundesliga giants enter the competition as clear favorites in their group, considering their success in both domestic and European competitions, Kovac remains cautious.
The 53-year-old Berlin-born tactician has emphasized the importance of preparation and not underestimating any opponents.
"We don’t really come up against South American or Asian clubs, you compete in Europe in the Champions League or with your national team, but facing these teams is completely new territory for us, we don’t quite know what to expect, that only adds to the anticipation," Kovac said on the FIFA official website.
"We have to collect information, sift through material and analyze footages. We’re not familiar with the vast majority of the players in question, the teams’ style of play or the intensity of their leagues.
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"The club’s analysis department are hard at work crunching numbers and attempting to unpick tactical systems to find out which teams press high, what type of defensive shape they use and which individual players carry the greatest threat, that takes time, which is now in short supply," he added.
"We know that the other two teams (Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan HD) won’t be treating it like a holiday. They’ll want to make their mark. We’ll have to be professional and respectful to achieve our targets."
Dortmund will commence their Club World Cup journey against Fluminense on June 17, before facing the Betway Premiership reigning champions and Ulsan HD, respectively.
