Kovac slams four-game international break as Dortmund count the cost

📰 Bundesliga leaders Dortmund's coach Niko Kovac has hit out at the long international break. 📌 Key points 🗣️ Kovac said it was "totally unacceptable" from a club perspective. 🔢 Some players played four international games during the break. 💡 He suggested three windows of two games would be best. 🤕 Schlotterbeck, Ryerson and Chukwuemeka came back with problems. 🏟️ Dortmund, four wins from four, host Werder Bremen on 9 October. 📝 What happened 🗣️ Speaking before the Bremen game on 7 October, Kovac said: "Those four games were definitely too much, and the break was too long." He added that it was not only about sick and injured players, as the team had gone two and a half weeks without any rhythm. 💡 He also offered an alternative: "Three times two would be the best solution, because the players are away for ten days and then you have them back." He said he understood the national coaches' position. 🤕 The break did take its toll. Nico Schlotterbeck hurt his ankle in Germany training and has been training on his own, while Julian Ryerson is feeling the effects of a collision. Carney Chukwuemeka returned with a muscle problem, and Konstantinos Karetsas and Daniel Svensson with colds. ✈️ Karetsas played four games for Greece, more than expected, and Ramy Bensebaini was still travelling back from Africa on Wednesday. 📊 By the numbers • International games in the break: up to 4 • Time without rhythm: two and a half weeks • Dortmund's league record: four wins from four, top • Kovac's proposal: three windows of two games 🔭 Why it matters The schedule after the break is packed, leaving little room for rotation. Keeping their perfect start going depends on the fitness of the returning internationals. Dortmund host Bremen on 9 October and meet them again in the DFB-Pokal on 27 October.