Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovač has used Manchester City star Phil Foden’s clinical efficiency as a direct challenge to his own forward, Karim Adeyemi, following the club’s recent 4-1 Champions League defeat.
According to Goal.com reporting, Kovač was frustrated by Adeyemi’s wasteful display in front of goal against Pep Guardiola’s side.
Foden scored a superb brace, demonstrating the lethal composure that Kovač believes is currently lacking in his young German attacker. The manager noted that while Adeyemi had a strong offensive game, he failed to convert key opportunities.
In his assessment, Kovač drew a direct comparison to the England international’s performance: “Offensively, he played a good game. He needs to reward himself for his play more often because he had two or three really good chances.
Note that, at the other end [Manchester City’s] Phil Foden converted similar chances. I wish he could have done the same, but he didn’t.”
Kovač was clear that such ruthlessness is the difference between top teams, describing the defeat as a “learning experience” for his squad.
He stressed that at the highest level, errors are punished and minimal scoring chances must be taken.
“We clearly need to improve and one sees that, at the highest level. we just can’t afford to make mistakes,” Kovač continued.
Adeyemi, a player Kovač acknowledged having a “special relationship” with, now faces the pressure to translate his promising play into decisive goals to cement his place in the starting XI.