BVB in crisis mode: Coach Nuri Şahin remains optimistic

Leaders in duty

Nuri Şahin didn’t show any of the stress and worries. Even in crisis mode, the Borussia Dortmund coach remains calm – at least on the outside. With many ruthless internal discussions, meticulous work and the knowledge that the bosses have the backing, the 36-year-old is trying to somehow get the shaky BVB back on track. But he hardly has time for that.

The 2:4 debacle at newly promoted Kiel affected Şahin deeply and kept him busy for a whole night. However, the coach will not let his trust in his team be taken away before the extremely important game against Eintracht Frankfurt. “I know the boys will be there tomorrow. I know we will have a reaction. “I continue to trust my players,” said the ex-professional combatively. One problem has been resolved before the Friday evening game (8:30 p.m./DAZN): Borussia Dortmund has survived the flu wave, which recently led to numerous cancellations. Apart from central defender Niklas Süle, all players are available to Şahin. But even if everyone is fit, many question marks remain.

BVB recently not only had an illness problem, but also a leadership problem on the pitch. Experienced professionals like Julian Brandt, Marcel Sabitzer or captain Emre Can were unable to carry the team along. The professionals who were actually planned to be absolute top performers struggle with their own shortcomings. In games like in Kiel, when nothing was going well for BVB, he wanted to see the leading players “take control,” said Şahin. He also expects “plain language” on the pitch. With regard to national player Brandt, he also said: “It is of course clear that Jule is one of these players. He is aware of the situation. He wants to lend a hand.”

Şahin reported that he had seen his team depressed in the past few days, but also very self-critical. The quarrel with the remarkably weak performance and the analysis are now complete. Everything else doesn’t help. “It has to continue for me and my coaching team,” he said. Of course, the coach knows that his job is also being discussed after the weakest first half of the season in ten years. It is possible that Şahin would survive another defeat as BVB coach. But things are not certain in the fast-moving football business. A lot probably depends on how Dortmund performs at Eintracht.

How long will the BVB bosses’ trust in Şahin last?

Another football-related oath of revelation would put even more pressure on those responsible at BVB around sports director Lars Ricken – even if the bosses actually have a lot of trust in Şahin. A coach’s failure would also be a serious blow for them. The former BVB professional, who also enjoys great support in the team, should develop the team further. However, Şahin has to achieve the minimum goal of qualifying for the Champions League – simply because of the income associated with it. Before the start of the second half of the season, BVB was already five points behind fourth place. In the event of a defeat against the third-place team in Frankfurt, it would probably continue to grow.

Given the strength of the opponent and Dortmund’s blatant weakness away from home, an end to the BVB crisis seems unlikely at Eintracht of all places. The Revierklub only managed one win on a foreign pitch this Bundesliga season. Şahin also sees the Hessians as “top opponents”. But the coach also says: “Maybe this is exactly the opponent we need to make up for what we have done.”