Opinion: Sahin became a problem, but is he the only one? | OneFootball

Nuri Sahin became Borussia Dortmund's head coach with minimal experience in his resume. However, he received the benefit of the doubt, given his previous history at the club. His footballing knowledge and trophy record for BVB also gave excitement to fans; after all, he is "one of our own."

However, the "Sahin experiment" went from what could have been a sustainable long-term project to a serious problem that mires Borussia Dortmund's 2024/2025 season. An early Pokal exit and a current 10th place in the league — seven points away from Champions League football — have put Dortmund's campaign in jeopardy.

Although finishing in the top eight at UCL is a reasonable possibility with two matches left, the team's performances have been inconsistent all season long. Not only will BVB likely finish a season with another trophyless run, but also with uncertainties regarding the future — a future with Sahin not necessarily in the picture. But what went wrong?

Above all, Sahin seems to lack conviction in what he expects from his players. The current BVB team does not showcase a clear or compelling style of play despite claims of a possession-based principle. Instead, the team looks confusing, which is noticeable on the pitch, with the players seemingly lost at times.

Nuri Sahin has developed the habit of constantly and sometimes drastically changing formations from one game to the next. Although any football manager needs to be adaptable nowadays, this coaching style makes it harder for players to absorb everything in one go. The result is a team with no pattern of execution or sense of direction.

In particular, I believe these many changes are Sahin's way of trying to find his identity as a manager; at the same time, he finds himself in a spot where he needs immediate answers. The matter of the fact is that Sahin was likely not ready to take such a responsibility this early, and he seems to be running out of ideas to turn this situation around.