BVB manager Niko Kovac is extremely annoyed by one aspect of VAR, whilst Lothar Matthäus took the boos on his birthday in his stride. News and rumours about Borussia Dortmund.More news, features and rumours about BVB:The topic of discussion was actually how Niko Kovac, overcome by nerves, couldn’t bear to watch as Ramy Bensebaini and Felix Nmecha were awarded a total of three penalties during Borussia Dortmund’s spectacular 3–2 victory over Hamburger SV on Saturday evening, and instead turned away. When asked about it by Sky, however, the BVB coach also revealed what else gets on his nerves on the touchline.“I can’t really celebrate properly either. VAR is all well and good – but you never know if someone will raise their finger again and say it doesn’t count,” lamented Kovac, explaining that VAR had gradually robbed him of the spontaneous joy of his own team’s goals. "That’s why you can’t really celebrate – only once it’s finally confirmed that it was a goal," the Croatian continued. By then, however, emotionally, "it’s all over again".In the match against HSV, Kovac felt his team’s first-half performance gave absolutely no cause for celebration. He therefore became “very clear” in the dressing room at half-time: “The way we played in the first half wasn’t good; it was bad. Everyone here in the stadium saw that, and we heard it too (whistles from the BVB fans, ed.) when we went into the dressing room." Regarding the volume of his half-time team-talk, the 54-year-old remarked tellingly: "I’m a Libra. So I’m actually very balanced – but when the scales tip, they tip."Dortmund had been trailing 0-2 at half-time against the newly promoted side due to serious individual errors. After the break, however, the second-placed side stepped up their game enormously and, thanks to two penalties from Ramy Bensebaini and a goal from Serhou Guirassy – both of whom came on as substitutes in the second half – still managed a 3-2 home win. "We weren’t on the pitch in the first half and didn’t play the way we did in the second half. Ideally, I’d like us to play like that from the first minute without needing a clear half-time talk,” said Kovac. “In the second half, we were much more energetic, much more aggressive and dynamic, and much more direct. That’s why we showed exactly the opposite of what we did in the first half.”The players themselves were also self-critical about their performance in the first 45 minutes. "The first half was rubbish. A lot went wrong, which is why we were rightly 0-2 down," said goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. "Having a first half like that, where we practically gifted the goals to ourselves, wasn’t the plan, of course," the Swiss player explained. However, as they managed to turn things around in the second half, he said he "don’t really mind, because we played so well in the second half. Three points are three points and that’s all that counts," said Kobel.German international Felix Nmecha, who to make matters worse also missed a penalty shortly before the half-time whistle, summed up the poor first half: "We didn’t have the control we wanted, weren’t aggressive enough and allowed them to score easy goals." The fact that he failed to score from the penalty spot “is just football,” emphasised Nmecha. “I’m very confident that I can take them, but today it just didn’t work out. I just carried on and I’m happy that we still won.”Borussia Dortmund president Hans-Joachim Watzke has commented on the still-unresolved future of BVB defensive stalwart Nico Schlotterbeck.“I would like to see this resolved very quickly,” Watzke told Sky on Saturday regarding the negotiations between the club and the player. He said he has “a good relationship with Schlotterbeck and would like him to stay. I am also – as Niko (manager Kovac, ed.) said weeks ago – cautiously optimistic.”BVB are keen to extend Schlotterbeck’s contract, which expires in 2027. The centre-back has been putting off a decision on whether to sign the current offer for an extension. Following another round of negotiations at the start of the week, Schlotterbeck now appears increasingly inclined to stay in Dortmund on a long-term basis.In recent months, there had been persistent speculation about a possible summer sale should the German international fail to extend his contract. Top clubs such as Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Liverpool FC have recently been linked with Schlotterbeck.Lothar Matthäus spent his 65th birthday in Dortmund on Saturday, as he was working as a Sky TV pundit for the evening match between BVB and Hamburger SV (3–2).Before the match, when the stands were still far from full, Dortmund’s stadium announcer Norbert Dickel asked the BVB fans to sing a birthday song for Matthäus. Many initially complied with this request, but soon more and more whistles began to mingle with the singing. This was hardly surprising given Matthäus’ long history as a player for FC Bayern Munich (1984 to 1988 and 1992 to 2000).The record-breaking international simply “played in Munich for too long”, Dickel remarked smugly. Matthäus, however, took the boos in his stride: “Bayern Munich isn’t exactly popular here in Dortmund – but still, many thanks to those who didn’t just boo, but sang along too. I’m glad I’ve been able to be part of this top match today on my birthday,” said the 1990 World Cup winner.Later, Matthäus emphasised once again: “I can understand the boos from the BVB fans too. At the start they were singing – then they realised who they were singing for and thought, OK, let’s have a go at booing. But I’m happy to accept that, because I’ve earned it – not just the kind words, but the boos as well.”Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingDateMatch4 April, 6.30 pmVfB Stuttgart v BVB (Bundesliga)11 April, 3.30 pmBVB v Bayer Leverkusen (Bundesliga)18 April, 3.30 pmTSG Hoffenheim v BVB (Bundesliga)