{
  "id": 12623508,
  "title": "Schlotterbeck, Ryerson and Karetsas among Dortmund doubts as Kovac gives squad update ahead of Werder clash",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/schlotterbeck-ryerson-and-karetsas-among-dortmund-doubts-as-kovac",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-07T12:12:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/schlotterbeck-ryerson-karetsas-among-dortmund-121200300.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The international break has left Borussia Dortmund with several concerns ahead of their Bundesliga match against Werder Bremen, according to head coach Niko Kovac. The most significant issue is the absence of Nico Schlotterbeck, who left the Germany squad due to an injury sustained during training. Additionally, wing-backs Julian Ryerson and Daniel Svensson, as well as attacking talent Konstantinos Karetsas, are also doubtful after returning from international duty. Head coach Kovac revealed that two players are feeling under the weather, Mathis Albert is returning from America, and it remains uncertain if Julian Ryerson will be fit for the weekend. Furthermore, Karsten Carney is dealing with minor muscular problems. Schlotterbeck is currently working individually and is expected to train with the team tomorrow, with the decision on his fitness for the match pending. The Dortmund coach criticized the workload placed on players during the international break, which involved four matches across various national teams. Kovac noted that the intense travel and competition in the UEFA Nations League have resulted in a significantly higher workload for the players, contrasting with the old system of friendly matches. He expressed his preference for the previous system, emphasizing that the players are facing an entirely different level of fatigue and require a tailored approach to manage their conditions effectively.",
  "summary": "The international break has left Borussia Dortmund with several question marks ahead of their Bundesliga clash with Werder Bremen on Friday, head coach Niko Kovac revealed on Wednesday.Most notably, N...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}