Nuri Sahin expressed frustration over Borussia Dortmund’s poor defense during a 2-1 victory against FC St. Pauli, particularly regarding a problematic throw-in that nearly cost them the game. Despite the win, Sahin noted the importance of improving their defending, referencing past mistakes as patterns. He strongly defended his team’s mentality, rejecting claims of issues in that area. With a Champions League match against Real Madrid approaching, he emphasized the need for recovery and improvement before the critical game.
Nuri Sahin expressed significant dissatisfaction with his Borussia Dortmund team’s performance on Friday night. He was ‘extremely upset’ about the way the team struggled after an inadequately defended throw-in.
Not wanting to dwell on the upcoming Premier League match, Sahin stated, ‘Tonight I’m not focusing on Real Madrid at all,’ following a messy but successful Bundesliga rehearsal against FC St. Pauli. After the narrow 2:1 (1:0) victory, the coach reflected on the game late Friday night, likely realizing there were more issues to address than he initially perceived.
Despite dominating long stretches of the match, Sahin’s team repeatedly handed opportunities to their opponents due to basic errors and lost possessions. This frustration was mirrored in Matthias Sammer’s reactions in the stands, and Sahin himself was particularly irritated with one incident.
‘That’s an issue; it’s unacceptable. We must improve,’ Sahin declared in an interview with DAZN. A long throw-in caused major trouble for Borussia, almost costing them the win. St. Pauli captain Jackson Irvine managed to extend the play, allowing Adam Dzwigala to level the score with ease. Sahin recognized a troubling trend: ‘We conceded a goal like that against Celtic, fell victim to a similar scenario against Union, and it happened again tonight,’ remarked the 36-year-old, who had anticipated this very challenge from the visitors: ‘I’m extremely upset about our defending on throw-ins.’
‘For Heaven’s Sake’
Sahin warned that such lapses could determine the points tally in the end. Fortunately, Serhou Guirassy made a crucial contribution, netting a header to secure the victory for BVB in the 83rd minute. Rami Bensebaini had earlier given the Westphalians the lead with his debut goal for the team (43′).
When questioned about a supposed mentality issue—a recurring theme in Dortmund discussions—Sahin vehemently objected: ‘This team does not have a mentality problem. Competing at this level for Borussia Dortmund requires a strong mindset. I won’t allow anyone to discuss my team in that manner. For Heaven’s sake,’ he asserted. ‘However, we need to be honest. We have to produce results every three days to be recognized as a top team. I reject the notion of a mentality issue.’
With this victory marking BVB’s fourth consecutive win at home, attention now turns to the looming Champions League rematch against Real Madrid next Tuesday (9pm/Prime Video and in the live ticker). ‘We know what to anticipate,’ said sporting director Sebastian Kehl, citing VfB Stuttgart as a model. The Swabians nearly earned a point at the Santiago Bernabeu. ‘Stuttgart demonstrated it. They’ll give us opportunities. I believe we have a chance,’ Kehl explained. Nonetheless, time is of the essence, and prioritizing recovery is essential given the current player shortages. Sahin has just one training session left on Monday to address the deficiencies displayed in the game against St. Pauli. ‘After that, we’ll tackle things head-on,’ he concluded.