Sahin comments on “nothing” BVB attacking display, calls Haller departure a “huge loss”

Newly appointed Borussia Dortmund trainer Nuri Sahin was naturally disappointed that – having deployed a natural striker for the first time in the three competitive fixtures under his watch – his Schwarzgelben found themselves unable to score a goal on Saturday afternoon. A 0-0 draw against SV Werder Bremen saw the Sahin coaching regime drop points for the first time. 

Unlike in the Pokal victory and last week’s league win, Sahin placed a natural striker atop his 3-4-3. German national team Maximilian Beier took the place of Germany U21 attacker Karim Adeyemi in the main attacking slot. Beier shall be relied upon heavily until his fellow summer acquisition Serhou Guirassy can once again get fit. Simply stated, Beier’s BVB starting debut left a lot to be desired. 

“We started very badly,” Sahin conceded when speaking to the Sky mics after Saturday’s draw, “It was far too easy [for Bremen] to defend [us] today. I had the feeling that we were much better in the game after the restart, particularly in the 50th to 55th minute. That was a short phase where we did well, then came the [Nico Schlotterbeck’s] sending off,”

”But the first half in particular today was just nothing,” Sahin then noted, “Today there were a lot of things that we weren’t good at. We were far too slow and narrow in the build up. But, it’s not a matter of us asking too much of the boys.” 

Of some concern, being slow, narrow, and squiggly in their build-up play was precisely the same sort of criticism leveled at Edin Terzic’s team at this juncture last season when they drew Ruhr Rivals VfL Bochum on the second match-day of the 2023/24 season. The lack of natural number nines also should concern Dortmund heading into the new season. 

Only newcomers Beier and Guirassy – by no means ingratiated with their new team – can play the position. Dortmund did respond to Niclas Füllkrug’s departure by purchasing the two replacements, but have also let three strikers go in the final phase of the transfer window. Young prospect Paris Brunner was sold. Youssoufa Moukoko and Sebastien Haller were loaned out just this week.

Haller’s departure counted as more of a surprise move. Sahin admitted as post in a pre-kickoff interview on Saturday afternoon. Dortmund’s new young head-coach strongly suggested that he had hoped to enter the season with Haller at his disposal and perhaps even use him in this Saturday’s league fixture. 

“That’s how brutal the business is,” Shain said before kickoff, “He gets on the bus with us to Bremen and in the evening he’s gone. Of course it’s emotional because it’s about a person.

“He wanted to take this step, Sahin continued, “which I can absolutely understand in sporting terms. In personnel terms, his departure is a huge loss for us. Hopefully he’ll find joy in his football again.”