Kovac's Borussia Dortmund Gamble: Young Defenders Benched for Key Clash

Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac has made a contentious squad decision, opting to exclude young defenders Filippo Mane and Luca Reggiani from the first-team lineup for Saturday’s challenging away fixture in the capital. Instead, both players are slated to feature for the reserves against SC Wiedenbrück in the Regionalliga West.

This move comes as a surprise, particularly given that vice-captain Nico Schlotterbeck was rested during Wednesday’s Champions League match against Bodö/Glimt to manage his physical condition. Schlotterbeck had sustained an ankle injury while on international duty, yet unexpectedly started against Werder Bremen last Friday, raising doubts about his full fitness. For the upcoming match, it is anticipated that Schlotterbeck will start in a back three alongside Waldemar Anton and the impressive new acquisition, Joane Gadou.

This setup leaves Ramy Bensebaini as the sole defensive cover. Bensebaini had stepped in for Schlotterbeck in the starting XI during the Norway game on Wednesday, delivering a solid and attentive performance. As Dortmund prepares to face the 'Iron Ones' this Saturday, any defensive lapses could prove costly, potentially exposing Kovac's high-stakes team selection.

Regarding Mane and Reggiani's standing at Borussia Dortmund, they recently played for the reserves against Wattenscheid last weekend, seemingly to gain much-needed game time. Mane, who had been recovering from a muscle injury, started the match, with Reggiani replacing him after halftime. Reggiani had previously spent the entire 90 minutes on the bench during the Werder Bremen match the night before.

Both centre-backs have seen limited first-team action this season. Mane has accumulated 138 minutes across three appearances, while Reggiani, a breakout star last season, has only featured twice for a total of 50 minutes. By last summer, Mane had reportedly surpassed Reggiani in the internal pecking order for centre-backs. Reggiani's opportunity arose in the latter half of last season due to significant injury woes and the unexpected departure of loan player Aaron Anselmino, allowing him to break into the first team and start eight of 16 competitive games. He even netted his debut Bundesliga goal against FC Augsburg in mid-March, subsequently earning a professional contract.

However, the situation reversed this summer, with Mane moving ahead and Gadou's arrival further diminishing Reggiani's prospects for first-team play. The Italian defender had initially declined a potential transfer during the summer window, but reports now suggest he has reconsidered, making a winter move highly probable. Such a transfer could secure a substantial fee for Borussia Dortmund, especially considering that AC Milan and Inter Milan reportedly made inquiries in the summer, and Reggiani allegedly rejected an offer from Southampton FC on deadline day.