With Borussia Dortmund sitting comfortably in second place in the Bundesliga, fans might expect some rotation or experimentation from coach Niko Kovac. However, the message from the boss is clear: the focus remains firmly on winning.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's high-stakes home clash against league leaders Bayer Leverkusen, Kovac dismissed any notion of taking his foot off the gas. "Mathematically, anything is still possible," he stated in a news conference. "Of course, we have a big advantage. But we want to keep winning games. I want to play with the players who deserve it."

That advantage is an 11-point cushion over third-placed RB Leipzig, a gap that provides security but not complacency. Kovac acknowledged that only if second place is mathematically secured with a few games to spare would he consider changes, and even then, performance would remain paramount. "I know myself all too well," he added.

The upcoming match carries extra weight as a chance for redemption. Dortmund's last meeting with Leverkusen was a painful 1-0 defeat in the German Cup round of 16, a result that saw them eliminated from the competition. Kovac, however, is looking forward, not back. "The Cup game is behind us," he stressed. "We played well. We lost in unfortunate circumstances."

This disciplined, performance-first mentality signals that Dortmund will field their strongest possible side as they aim to close the gap at the top and build momentum for the season's final stretch.