by Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- The frustration on Borussia Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin's face told the story, as his expression seemed frozen in disappointment. While the 2011-12 German champions have delivered nearly flawless performances in the UEFA Champions League, securing two commanding victories over Club Brugge (3-0) and Celtic (7-1), troubles in the Bundesliga have sparked growing concern.
Despite three home victories, Dortmund's struggles on the road have been alarming. Three winless away matches, with seven goals conceded, have triggered unrest and contributed to the club's worst start to a season in a decade.
Sahin, 36, who took over from Edin Terzic, appears to be struggling to find consistency and stability for the 2024 Champions League finalists. Sporting director Sebastian Kehl pointed out the team's defensive woes. "Eleven goals conceded in the last four matches is evidence that we're still searching for stability and consistency," Kehl said.
With a tough Champions League clash against Real Madrid looming on October 22 and a Bundesliga match against newly-promoted FC St. Pauli, Sahin has little time to right the ship, especially with many of Dortmund's players away on international duty.
"As a top club, we should be able to produce results every three days," Sahin lamented after a disappointing away draw against Werder Bremen (0-0) and losses to Stuttgart (5-1) and Union Berlin (2-1) over the weekend.
Former Bayern Munich midfielder Stefan Effenberg weighed in, saying the blame shouldn't rest solely on Sahin. "He may be a young coach with limited experience, but where are the team's leaders? I expect the players to step up," Effenberg said.
One troubling statistic: Dortmund ran nine kilometers less than Union Berlin in their latest match, further highlighting their struggles. Despite significant investments over the summer, Kehl acknowledged, "We are not where we want to be."
While Sahin is calling for patience, Kehl is demanding greater effort and accountability from the players. "We all know where this is heading if we don't turn it around," the sporting director warned, referencing Dortmund's recent history of inconsistency.
After proclaiming a new beginning this season, Dortmund finds itself grappling with familiar issues. Their home wins against Heidenheim and Bochum were far from convincing, and the team is once again on a rollercoaster of unpredictable performances.
Sahin announced plans for a thorough analysis during the international break, saying, "We need to find solutions." While he insists the team is "growing together step by step," the pressure is mounting.
The success of his predecessor, Terzic - who led Dortmund to a DFB-Pokal win, a Champions League final, and a second-place league finish - only adds to the weight on Sahin's shoulders. The club's attempts at a relaunch are hitting bumpy terrain, and Sahin's most pressing challenge remains building a reliable core within the squad.
"We believe we have a team capable of performing, and we will work on that," Sahin said, though his words carried the weight of a man hoping for a breakthrough. ■
