Borussia Dortmund's Sahin Urges Team to Step Up After Inconsistent Start

Borussia Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin has called for consistency from his team after their 3-1 win at Wolfsburg, citing a need for improvement in the second half of the season.

Borussia Dortmund concluded 2024 on a high note, securing a 3-1 win at VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday. This victory marked Dortmund's first away league win of the season, bringing an end to a three-game winless streak.

Despite the promising result, Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin emphasized the need for his team to maintain consistency in order to achieve their goal of returning to the Bundesliga's top four in the second half of the season. The win lifted Dortmund to sixth place, which is the last spot to qualify for European football, providing a timely boost ahead of the new year.

Borussia Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin reflected on his team's performance this season and his first few months in charge, expressing disappointment that they are not higher up in the standings. “There were a lot of ups and downs. It was hesitant and that's exactly what I keep telling the guys,” Sahin told streaming platform DAZN, drawing parallels between the Wolfsburg game and the team's overall season.

Sahin emphasized the need for consistency, stressing that this is an area where his team must improve. "We have to learn to be consistent," he said. Sahin also referenced last week's 1-1 draw against Hoffenheim, a result that he feels could have been better. “The table looks better, but it would look a lot better if we'd pulled it off against Hoffenheim,” he added.

Goalscorers Maximilian Beier and Julian Brandt shared their coach Nuri Sahin's concerns, expressing disappointment with Dortmund's second-half performance in their 3-1 win at Wolfsburg. Despite leading 3-0 at halftime, Dortmund's advantage was nearly erased after Pascal Gross' red card and Wolfsburg's subsequent goal. Brandt acknowledged that the team's performance was subpar, saying, “A 3-0 lead should give you enough confidence to see the game out comfortably. You can criticise us (for the second half). It's not good, we have to play more confidently, we have to step up.”

Beier, 22, echoed Brandt's sentiments, emphasizing the need for improvement in the new year. “We're trying to find a reset in the new year and play better,” the striker said. “We can't aim to be sixth.” Beier's statement highlights the team's ambition to climb higher in the standings and compete with the Bundesliga's top teams.