It’s make-or-break for Kovac

MUNICH: Bayern Munich are embracing the role of underdogs for today’s Bundesliga showdown at leaders Borussia Dortmund with captain Manuel Neuer admitting all is not well with the defending champions.

Bayern have won 10 of their last 19 games against Dortmund, including a 6-0 thrashing of the current league leaders last March when Robert Lewandowski scored a hat-trick against his former club in Munich.

Six months later, third-placed Bayern trail Dortmund by four points in the table and struggling for form under coach Niko Kovac.

In the wake of a 2-0 defeat at Hertha Berlin and a 3-0 upset at home to Moenchengladbach — with Bayern out-played in both league games — the Bavarian giants have laboured to beat even limited teams in recent weeks.

“We are not the ‘Super-Bayern’ that everyone knows and aren’t setting off fireworks with our performances,” admitted Neuer after Wednesday's laboured 2-0 win over AEK in the Champions League.

Even Bayern president Uli Hoeness sees the Bavarians as “underdogs” at Dortmund, a notion the hosts reject.

“We’ve heard what has been said, but we don’t care — we are just enjoying the situation,” said Dortmund’s director of sport Michael Zorc on Thursday.

“It doesn’t make much sense to compare (Dortmund with Bayern) — they have won the last six Bundesliga titles.”

On paper, there is little cause for concern from Bayern’s perspective.

They trail Dortmund by only four points and on the verge of the Champions League knockout stages, topping their group with 10 points.

Yet frustrating recent performances tell a different story with rumours of unrest in the dressing room.

Senior players Thomas Mueller, Mats Hummels, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery are reportedly not behind Kovac — a toxic situation for any head coach at Bayern.

Ex-Bayern and Germany legend Lothar Matthaeus believes today’s match can make — or break — Kovac’s tenure.

“A victory there and all Bayern fans would conjure up a smile again,” said Matthaeus, 57, who sees a “great chance” for Bayern to “reassert themselves and silence a few critical voices”.

Thomas Mueller expects an electric atmosphere at Dortmund in front of an 81,000 sellout crowd.

“We will have to torture ourselves a bit,” said the Germany midfielder.

“Dortmund are in a phase and playing refreshing football going forward.

“We have to keep up and not let the gap grow.”