Maximilian Beier on what Niko Kovač has brought to Borussia Dortmund, their success in seeing games out and his World Cup thoughts
Borussia Dortmund striker Maximilian Beier has spoken about the changes Niko Kovač has implemented in his year in charge at Signal Iduna Park as well as what it feels like to score a crucial late winner.
Bundesliga: Niko Kovač has now been in charge of Dortmund for a year. How has he made you such a tougher team?
Maximilian Beier: “I’d say since the coach has been here, we’re all noticeably fitter. I think that is a factor. We can run more, and we can run intensely for longer. You can see it in the data, I think. The coach always mentions it too, when we run over 120 kilometres together in a match."
Bundesliga: So, 120km as a team is the target?
Beier: “Yeah, it always has been. I think we have done it quite a lot."
Watch: Something brewing in Dortmund
Bundesliga: It has been noticeable too that Dortmund are scoring lots of important late goals - such as an 87th-minute winner in Wolfsburg on Matchday 21 - whereas last season you conceded a few late on. Is that something you have worked on as a team?
Beier: "Yes. We sat down together and discussed how to play games out in stoppage time more smartly, because we had conceded in stoppage time relatively often. If you’re leading 3–2, you obviously have to look at the clock. It would be stupid not to. So maybe we do things a bit slower, take a bit more time on throw-ins, things like that. We play a bit more cleverly.”
Bundesliga: You also scored a cruical late goal, in the sixth minute of stoppage time when Dortmund beat Cologne 1-0 in October. How did that feel?
Beier: "Yeah, it’s hard to describe. I didn’t think about it much. The ball came and I just had to put it on goal. I remember we had taken a lot of shots, and the goalkeeper saved everything. The luck was almost on my side as it went through two pairs of legs and then trickled in.”
Watch: Late Beier strike sees Dortmund beat Cologne
Bundesliga: It must be difficult to unwind after a moment like that?
Beier: "It is. There was so much adrenaline in my body. I had headaches, because in the rush to celebrate so many people were hitting my head. It was hard to find words after the game too. After games, a lot of people also struggle to sleep because there’s so much in your body and in your head that you have to process."
Bundesliga: There have been some suggestions that, despite their good form, Dortmund are not fully firing in attack. How do you react to that?
Beier: "Well, if you take the first half against Wolfsburg, for example, we played really, really good attacking football. We held a high line, we won every ball. I thought we had a very good first half in attack.”
Watch: Dortmund win it late in Wolfsburg
Bundesliga: You've also scored 17 goals in six Bundesliga matches so far in 2026. Are you doing better than some believe?
Beier: "Yes, I think we are playing good attacking football with three goals per game in 2026. I don't think four or five goals every game is a realistic target. We get a lot of scrutiny at Dortmund, and you can’t really please everyone."
Bundesliga: What are your aims for the rest of the season?
Beier: "Simply to win as many of the remaining games as possible.”
Bundesliga: Is making Germany's World Cup squad a target for you?
Beier: "My aim is to have a good season here with Dortmund, first. Then we can look at that.”
Bundesliga: Do you have any predictions of the World Cup in terms of eventual winners, a suprise package and rising star?
Beier: "Germany will win. I think Austria can be a surprise as Marcel Sabitzer will make a difference, and for a rising star I would pick Felix Nmecha."
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