Kovac plays down Guirassy anger over substitution in Dortmund win

Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy is expected to lead the attack in Tuesday's German Cup match against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday despite his angry reaction when he was substituted in the two sides' Bundesliga match.

Guirassy threw away his gloves and refused to shake hands with coach Niko Kovac when he was ordered off in the 61st minute on Saturday in Leverkusen.

But the two were already seen talking and embracing after the final whistle of Dortmund's 2-1 victory, and Kovac said post-match he had no hard feelings.

‘Everything is fine again. Serhou and I are the best of friends," Koav said.

"We sorted it out. He also understood why that [the substitution] was the case. It would have also not been nice if he had left the pitch with a smile and satisfied," Kovac said.

"I have supported him and will continue to support him; he is our most important striker. I know how important he is to us, but I believe he also knows how important I am to him."

Kovac admitted that "I may have reacted in a different way a few years ago" while his substitution turned out to be the right one because Fabio Silva provided the cross for Dortmund's second from Karim Adeyemi four minutes after coming on for Guirassy.

The issue somewhat overshadowed Dortmund's crucial win over a top-four rival which lifted them past Leverkusen into third place in the Bundesliga.

But they also have big ambitions in the Cup and Saturday's win will give them added confidence for Tuesday's third round meeting which will be in Dortmund.

"It was a good game, but it was only the first of two," forward Julian Brandt said.

"Now we have the pleasure of playing at home. Leverkusen – these have always been extremely tight contests in recent years, and I expect another one on Tuesday.”