The two reasons why Yan Couto is struggling at Borussia Dortmund

Yan Couto, a recent signing from Borussia Dortmund last summer, has not yet exploded into the German side as expected. There are two problems in particular that have held the Brazilian back so far.

Last Thursday it was reported that just a few months after his transfer was finalised, Yan Couto will be signed by Borussia Dortmund on a permanent basis. The reason is not the right-back’s performances, but a 20 million euro release clause agreed with Manchester City that came into effect after a certain number of games and which has now been activated.

Couto’s performances have not met expectations thus far. While he has shown glimpses of his attacking potential, he has faced significant criticism in defense after playing 7 games (330 minutes, one assist).

Not living up to expectations
In the match against Union Berlin (1-2), for instance, the 22-year-old was noted for the high number of ball losses he experienced. According to an article in Ruhr Nachrichten, BVB hopes that Couto “will reduce the number of errors and simultaneously develop a better understanding of the much-needed resilience.”

Couto has noted that the physical endurance training in Germany and the “unprecedented level of fitness” he is experiencing mark a “huge change,” as reported by Ruhr Nachrichten, which highlights the playing environment. For the first time, the wing-back is participating in specialized strength training, something he did not have in Brazil or during his recent time with Girona.

The same newspaper mentions that the second significant challenge for the newcomer is the language barrier. Couto has limited English skills and is known not to speak German at all. He is now taking English classes three times a week, and steps have been taken to optimize the Canarinho’s performance.