Niko Kovac congratulates Luca Reggiani (18) on record-setting Bundesliga goal: “He deserves doughnuts!”

Borussia Dortmund trainer Niko Kovac needed no addition invitation to gush over defender Luca Reggiani when asked about the record setting Bundesliga youngster on Saturday. The 18-year-old, in just his second Bundesliga start and fourth overall league appearance, officially became the youngest Italian to score in the German top flight during Dortmund’s 2-0 win over Augsburg. 

Kovac always backed Luca Reggiani

Kovac had strong words of praise for Reggiani after the former Sassuolo academy man turned in an exceptional performance in a Champions League start last month. Unfortunately, just days after Reggiani dazzled in the opening leg UCL victory over his native land’s Atalanta Bergamo, the teenager left much to be desired in a very poor league deployment against RB Leipzig. 

Kovac yanked Reggiani after just 64 minutes in the Leipzig game. After that, the Italy U19 international remained unused on the bench in two subsequent Bundesliga fixtures. Reggiani also didn’t log a single minute of action in Dortmund’s return leg loss in Lombardy. A Ramy Bensebaini suspension gifted Reggianni another chance in the BVB back-three this weekend. 

Kovac’s words on Reggiani celebrations and rewards

“Myself, all those [associated with the club] in this room, and surely all the Dortmund fans are very happy,” Kovac said. “An 18-year-old playing one of his first Bundesliga games scores his first goal. He clearly didn’t know where to go or what to do first. The emotions that he displayed were wonderful.

“I don’t know what the lads are planning for him now,” Kovac continued. “I hope they think something to give him [in terms of a reward]. Maybe a couple of [Berliner style jelly] doughnuts or something.“

GGFN | Peter Weis