Following Fabio Silva's unexpected and rather candid comments about his future, Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovač has clarified the pecking order in the team's attack. When asked by Bild on Thursday, Kovač addressed the Portuguese forward directly, stating: "He knows his role in the team. Guirassy is our number one striker. He is the challenger."
This was a clear message from Kovač to Silva. After Borussia Dortmund's 2-1 defeat to Bayern in the DFL-Supercup, the striker publicly expressed his frustration at being relegated to a backup role long-term. Silva scored in the 75th minute, briefly reviving Borussia Dortmund's hopes, but after the final whistle, he cast doubt on his future at the club.
When asked about a possible departure before the transfer window closes, Silva said: "That's not the most important thing right now. I don't know what will happen. I feel good. Of course, I want more starting opportunities and to help the team."
Silva added: "I want to become more important. If I said no, I'd be lying. I always tell the truth." He displayed strong self-confidence when discussing his attributes, saying: "Everyone saw how I performed last season, my assists and my runs during the playing time I received. I'm not a traditional number 9—I'm more of a false nine."
However, this will not change the attacking hierarchy at Borussia Dortmund in the short term. Guirassy's position is secure, and Silva must earn his place. This division of roles was evident in the Supercup: Guirassy started, while Silva came off the bench after more than an hour and scored shortly after entering the match.
In his first season at Borussia Dortmund, Silva scored 4 goals in 40 official appearances. Transfer speculation surrounding the Portuguese forward has been constant recently, with interest from Spanish clubs. Real Betis is considered a potential destination.
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