“It really goes against my grain”
BVB boss hits back against Mario Basler
Updated on 01/14/2025 – 06:53 amReading time: 2 minutes
Mario Basler criticized BVB in his usual exaggerated manner. They didn’t want to let that happen in Dortmund – and launched a counterattack.
The verbal exchange of blows between Borussia Dortmund and TV expert Mario Basler has reached the next level of escalation. BVB sports director Sebastian Kehl has firmly rejected the former Bundesliga professional’s recent statements. In the Sport1 “one-two” Basler had massively criticized both coach Nuri Şahin and midfielder Marcel Sabitzer – a polemic that Kehl did not want to leave uncommented.
Kehl was outraged by Basler’s allegations, which he described in a conversation with “Bild” as “inappropriate, disrespectful and simply wrong.” The accusation that Şahin had dismantled Sabitzer with his decisions particularly angered the sports director. Basler claimed that Sabitzer only sat on the bench in the first two Bundesliga games of the season.
Kehl countered decisively: “Just when I hear that Marcel Sabitzer sat on the bench for the first two games – my memory says otherwise. The statistics, by the way, too.” In fact, the Austrian international was in the starting line-up in the first two league games and the cup game against Lübeck.
However, Basler did not just criticize Sabitzer’s playing times. The expert attacked Şahin personally, accusing him of lacking charisma and a weak demeanor. “For me, Şahin did everything wrong at Borussia Dortmund from the start,” explained Basler and added: “After the game against Leverkusen, his portrayal in the interview – he has no charisma, he sinks into himself.”
Kehl left no doubt that he stands behind his coach. “Factual criticism is one thing, but this increasing polemic really goes against my grain,” the 44-year-old made clear. The attacks on Şahin are neither well-founded nor constructive and have no basis whatsoever.
It remains to be seen whether Basler will respond to Kehl’s sharp reaction. However, the verbal dispute between BVB and the polarizing TV expert is unlikely to be over yet.