Bologna achieved a historic milestone by winning their first match in Champions League history, defeating Borussia Dortmund 2-1 on Tuesday. This outcome marks a significant concern for Dortmund’s coach, Nuri Sahin, who has now faced four consecutive defeats this season.
Following the disappointing result, Dortmund’s sporting director, Lars Ricken, announced that club leadership would convene on Wednesday to deliberate on potential next steps. “We need wins. We need results. Now we’ve won only once in nine games,” Ricken stated, although he refrained from expressing full confidence in Sahin’s ability to reverse the trend. He continued, “I have a very trusting and good relationship with Nuri. He always has my backing, but of course my statements stand.”
Dortmund began the year with three losses in the Bundesliga against Bayer Leverkusen (3-2), Holstein Kiel (4-2), and Eintracht Frankfurt (2-0). Ricken indicated that a decision on Sahin’s future will be made prior to the team’s next match against Werder Bremen on Saturday, asserting, “We will discuss what is best for Borussia Dortmund and what the solutions are so that we can get back on the path to success.”
Sahin’s potential exit would be especially poignant, given his long-standing connection to the club. At just 16 years old, he made history as the youngest player to compete in the Bundesliga and has been a part of Dortmund in various capacities, including serving as an assistant last season when they finished as runners-up in the Champions League.
However, the current season has seen a distinct decline in performance. After the recent loss, former player and now club advisor Matthias Sammer offered a harsh critique of the team, saying, “If we look at it analytically, this team is physically and mentally in a state of disrepair. Unfortunately, the team cannot defend, but it’s also unable to attack.”
Dortmund’s only goal against Bologna came from a penalty kick converted by Serhou Guirassy in the 15th minute. Guirassy, who joined from Stuttgart, is struggling to match the level of his previous performances, where he scored 28 goals last season. His current tally includes seven goals in the Bundesliga this season, with a couple of those coming from penalties.
The team’s struggles extend beyond just one player; Dortmund has allowed nearly as many goals against them (31) as they have scored (32) in the Bundesliga. Bologna’s substitutes, Thijs Dallinga and Samuel Iling-Junior, delivered a decisive blow with two goals in quick succession, solidifying Dortmund’s position at the bottom of the Champions League standing.
In the wake of the defeat, Sahin remarked on his accountability, stating, “If a coaching change fixes all the problems, that’s absolutely no problem for me. I’m responsible for the performance we put on. The fact is we’ve lost four games in a row.”
