Source: REUTERS/Carmen Jaspersen
[Saba Sports News] According to German media reports, Borussia Dortmund is facing issues due to a thin squad, which is related to management’s high-risk decision this summer to heavily rely on youth training. Reports indicate that Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin has confirmed that he cannot field seven players for upcoming matches. Additionally, midfielder Felix Nmecha and goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, who were injured in this week’s DFB-Pokal match against Wolfsburg, may also be absent. In this worst-case scenario, Dortmund would only have 11 healthy first-team players available. In response, Sahin stated: “If we have eight players with muscle injuries, then we can discuss whether we did something wrong. But it would be unfair to blame the medical or fitness departments now.” This summer, Dortmund’s management aimed to integrate outstanding young players from their youth training center into the first team. Therefore, only a portion of the 12 players who left this summer were replaced by new signings. However, at that time, no one really anticipated that this plan would backfire so severely. The current situation has turned into one where the Yellow and Black Army must not only forgo injured players but also see healthy star players beginning to struggle.