Jobe Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)
October 2025
A miscue by Bellingham enabled Michael Olise’s winner in Bayern’s 2–1 Klassiker victory, triggering scrutiny of the 19-year-old’s adaptation. Kovac rejected blame, calling the cross unplayable and the scenario difficult, while questioning an earlier Harry Kane goal for a perceived push. Kovac emphasized biomechanics and decision frames under rapid deliveries, arguing Bellingham’s positioning was correct and execution constrained. He framed officiating inconsistency as material to the result, seeking to shield a young signing amid heightened expectations linked to his surname.