Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac has publicly backed youngster Samuele Inacio after his nightmare Bundesliga debut. The 18-year-old was sent off after just 200 seconds on the pitch, but his red card did not prevent a 2-0 home victory over Hamburger SV on Saturday.
Referee Felix Zwayer showed Inacio the red card in the 74th minute for a reckless sliding challenge on HSV's Albert Grønbaek. The dismissal left Dortmund shorthanded for the closing stages. Kovac revealed how devastated the teenager was by the incident. "I just went into the dressing room and the boy was sitting there crying," the head coach said. "It was his first red card as a Bundesliga professional, and it happened here in this stadium."
It wasn't just the manager; experienced players in the squad also rallied around the youngster. Defender Waldemar Anton called Inacio a young, motivated player with enormous qualities. Kovac stressed that the challenge was not intentional and that the youth must learn from his mistake. "He was late. He doesn't need to go to ground there, and then he catches him." Kovac analyzed the scene matter-of-factly.
The support for Inacio comes at a time when Borussia Dortmund's squad is already stretched. The current injury list includes four key players: goalscorer Giannis Konstantelias, Justin Lerma, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Ramy Bensebaini. Kovac also confirmed potentially devastating injury news for Konstantelias, further straining the attack.
The win over Hamburg was the first of the season and brought three important points. Borussia Dortmund starts the campaign in 5th place in the Bundesliga standings. The record after one match reads one win, no draws, no losses. The goal difference of +2 (two scored, none conceded) is a solid first return. The recent form shows a 'W' for the victory.
The next test comes quickly on September 5, 2026. Kovac's team travels to face 12th-placed TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. That fixture is the next entry on the schedule. A positive result there could further bolster the young squad and help bridge this challenging period with absentees.
The unfortunate debut will not define the talent's career, but it will certainly be a lesson. The reaction from the coach and teammates shows he remains part of the plan. His place in the current squad is not under immediate threat. The task for Kovac and his staff will now be to rebuild the 18-year-old's confidence and give him reassurance in the training weeks before the Hoffenheim match.
Competition for his position is fierce, but the public backing signals patience. The coming training sessions and any further substitute appearances will show how quickly Inacio can shake off the negative images. His next chance could come as early as September 5th away at Hoffenheim, where Dortmund targets a second season win.
