Bellingham warned over Dortmund game time as Kovac cites fierce competition

Borussia Dortmund have issued a pointed warning to Jobe Bellingham over his lack of playing time, with head coach Niko Kovac saying the 19-year-old is "isn't doing himself any favours" amid intense competition for places. After starting the first two Bundesliga matches of the season, the teenager has since found minutes harder to come by in western Germany.

Kovac said in an interview with Kicker that while every player wants to leavemarket minutes on the field, teams only keep 11 players on the pitch. "Everyone wants to play every minute, but then you only need 11 players. When you sign a contract here, it is not only well paid, it also means there is a hell of a lot of competition." Dortmund’s current midfield configuration has Marcel Sabitzer and Felix Nmecha preferred in the centre over Bellingham, who arrived from Sunderland last summer in a £32 million package deal and has yet to establish himself as a regular starter.

Kovac emphasised that Bellingham is a "very talented player" but must grow into the Bundesliga standard to secure a regular role. The coach stressed that talent alone does not guarantee minutes and warned against leaning on reputation, saying, "You cannot make the mistake of applying too much pressure, despite the name. I think that is not doing the boy any favours, and the boy is not doing himself any favours."

The name Bellingham has long been associated with Jude, who left Dortmund for Real Madrid in 2023 after a standout spell at the club. Jude’s immediate impact at Real Madrid has contrasted with Jobe’s early path, and Kovac suggested that the pressure of living up to the family name could hinder the younger sibling as he forges his own path at Dortmund.

Former Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray, who coached Jobe for only a few months, has said the decision to drop his surname was deliberate to avoid living in his brother’s shadow. "I think he’s trying to create his own identity," Mowbray said. "He doesn’t want to live off the back of his brother’s name, he wants to be the footballer that he is and show people what he can do." The move to Dortmund reportedly required approval from the English Football League so that the younger Bellingham could pursue his own path rather than rely on the family name.

Dortmund publicly welcomed the transfer earlier this month with a video unveiling that featured the line, "The name is Jobe." In that moment, Bellingham spoke of his connection to the club and his ambition to write his own chapter in yellow and black, saying, "The same city, the same stadium, but the story that’s ours to write now."

The unfolding situation at Dortmund mirrors a broader challenge for young players breaking through at big clubs: earn your place through performances in training and on matchdays, rather than riding a surname or early promise. As Bellingham continues to adapt to the Bundesliga’s demands, Dortmund’s coaching staff will likely balance development with results as they navigate a midfield packed with options. The club did not announce any imminent changes to its midfield lineup, but Kovac’s comments signal that minutes will be earned, not given, and that competition for starting spots will remain intense as the season progresses.