Kehl backs Sahin despite defeat: “He prepares his team well.”

Despite the highly disappointing connotations surrounding Saturday’s league defeat against Augsburg, Borussia Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl made clear that he and his administrative team were absolutely not considering a BVB coaching change at this juncture. Kehl conducted an interview with Sky Germany after the full-time whistle.

“He enjoys our complete trust,” Kehl said, “No question about it. We opted to try a new path in the summer, to put together a new team. We are not yet where we want to be, but there’s no real alternative but to continue working hard.” 

“I see a coach working together with his team everyday,” Kehl continued, “Nuri prepares his team meticulously and he worked out a game-plan for today as well. In the end, the lads have to implement it on the pitch.” 

For his part, Sahin groused that injuries got in the way of his match plan today. In his own post-match interview, BVB attacker Julian Brandt too noted that “injuries are leaving us shorthanded and not making matters any easier.” 

Waldemar Anton and Julian Ryerson had to exit proceedings hurt. It was revealed after the match that Marcel Sabitzer’s subbing off at the half was also due to injury. 

“I’ve never experienced having to make three substitutions due to injury,” Sahin remarked in his own interview, “It’s [still] absolute madness how we’re conceding goals right now. It’s too cerebral from us right now. One must play football with intuition and not with the mind.”