Greece head coach denies reports of Borussia Dortmund request to manage Konstantinos Karetsas’ workload

Greece head coach denies reports of Borussia Dortmund request to manage Konstantinos Karetsas’ workload Greece head coach Ivan Jovanovic has denied reports that Borussia Dortmund asked the Greek Football Federation to manage Konstantinos Karetsas’ workload during the current international break. Sky Germany had previously reported that Dortmund contacted the Greek FA regarding the 18-year-old ahead of Sunday’s Nations League rematch against Germany. Karetsas has started all three of Greece’s matches during the current window and only recently returned from injury. Dortmund were therefore reported to have requested that the attacking midfielder be used sparingly amid concerns over his recent workload. Jovanovic, however, directly rejected the suggestion that BVB had made any special request. “We are in weekly contact with all the teams our players play for—with information flowing both ways,” the Greece head coach said on Saturday. “As long as I have been coach here, no European club has expressed any special wishes.” Karetsas expected to remain important for Greece Karetsas remains an important player for a Greece side that has collected seven points from its opening three Nations League fixtures. The Borussia Dortmund youngster has started throughout that run and could again feature prominently when Greece host Jürgen Klopp’s Germany in Thessaloniki on Sunday. For now, Jovanovic’s position is clear: whatever communication has taken place with Dortmund falls under normal club-country dialogue rather than any special request concerning Karetsas. GGFN  |  Peter Weis