“Every player should be angry about the way we performed” : BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl furious after disastrous performance at MHP Arena
Borussia Dortmund have not had the brightest of starts to their season, but their recent game against VfB Stuttgart have put an early dagger across their hearts, as the game ended 5-1 in the hosts’ favor.
BVB coach Nuri Sahin was not the happiest man in the world, as he was taught a rather painful lesson away at home. The Turkish-German was very critical of the team’s performance, and reflected some harsh words on it post-match.
“The basics were missing, then something like today happens. It was bad from the first to the last minute. We were sharp before the match. The way we performed, it can’t have anything to do with physical tiredness. You can find a million excuses, but none of them are valid, that was a poor performance. You can’t play like that as Borussia Dortmund. I never want to see a game like that again. We’ll analyse the game rigorously,” said a frustrated Sahin (via DAZN).
Last season’s runners-up looked like they were from a different league altogether, as they put on a star show for their home fans. Deniz Undav ran riot in the final third, accumulating a brace along the way, while Ermedin Demirovic, Enzo Millot, and El Bilal Toure all scored important goals as well. Former Stuttgart player Serhou Giurassy also scored for the visitors, but it was too late by then.
Apart from Nuri Sahin’s obvious concerns, this all-out 90-minute thrashing did not sit well with the Black and Yellow’s sporting director Sebastian Kehl as well.
“I hardly saw anyone who was anywhere near their usual form” : Sebastian Kehl puts all the blame on the players after an embarrassing showcase
Sebastian Kehl was not at all sympathetic towards the team’s lacklustre performance, and firmly held this loss’s responsibility to the players itself, who he believed were not at their usual level, while only a handful actually tried to make things happen.
“What we delivered, what we did on the pitch for the most part, is inexplicable and must not happen to us,” Kehl said (via Ruhr Nachrichten).
“Every player should be angry about the way we performed. Everyone should take a good look at themselves and think about how such a performance can come about. Apart from a small number of players, I hardly saw anyone who was anywhere near their usual form and gave the impression that they wanted to win this game,” the 44-year-old added.
When asked about the Black and Yellow fans coming away to support the club but leaving in discontent, the German said that he ‘understood’ the fans’ feelings and would not blame their behaviour in any case.
“Understandable, and right. During the game supported us right up until the last moment. But it is completely understandable that they did not move at the end after such a performance and showed what the team what they thought of the performance. There will not be a single player in the dressing room who would in any way blame the fans for their behaviour today,” explained Kehl.
This was Dortmund’s fourth defeat in a row against VfB Stuttgart, and are now sitting at eighth in the league table. Arch rivals Bayern Munich have already gone five points clear, as the Bavarians are yet to lose in their season so far. Life in Dortmund for Nuri Sahin and co. has not gone the perfect way so far, and while drastic measures are not required just yet, they would need to make some strict changes in order to compete for the title, or worse, fight for the Champions League spots if things keep on going the same.
