- Upon Sahin's comeback, Dortmund expresses disappointment with Bremen's performance.
Dortmund still has some finishing touches to add after their significant makeover during the summer. The 0-0 draw against Werder Bremen showcased this, being the first instance in the new Bundesliga season. Bold Bremen put Dortmund under pressure in front of 42,100 spectators at the Weser Stadium. Nico Schlotterbeck, the German national player, was sent off in the 73rd minute with a yellow-red card. Borussia Dortmund is now adjusting to a new manager, a new system, and a drastically different squad, all of which require harmonization.
Paying tribute to the late Willi Lemke, the former successful manager of Werder Bremen, the first home game at the Weser Stadium marked his memory. Fans displayed a choreography with the message "Willi Lemke unforgotten" before the match. The Werder players performed with special jerseys in honor of the special occasion.
Bremen's tenacity against the formidable opponents, resembling the ancient Lemke belief, would have pleased the iconic manager of the 80s and 90s.
Bremen showed their courage and frequently attacked Dortmund, who were reinforced with 80 million euros. The disorganized and unsettled Borussia Dortmund struggled to keep up with Bremen's attacks, making errors in their gameplay.
In the 3-4-3 formation, Dortmund switched to a 4-2-3-1 system early in the game to strengthen their shaky defense, now led by Nuri Sahin. With the guidance of sports director Lars Ricken, Maximilian Beier, Pascal Groß, and Waldemar Anton, three of the five new signings, were introduced to the team.
The significant change continued even prior to the game. Striker Sébastien Haller, who had traveled to Bremen the day before, was loaned out to the Spanish club CD Leganés just before the end of the transfer period. The brutal nature of the business left Borussia Dortmund with just ten players for the game.
Nuri Sahin, a former Borussia Dortmund player playing from 2018 to 2020, returned to the Weser Stadium with expectations of a more relaxed visit. However, Dortmund struggled to break through Bremen's defense, with only sporadic moments of danger, including a beautiful free-kick attempt by Anton and Groß (19) and a shot from native Bremen player Julian Brandt (45).
Despite Bremen's well-executed attacks thus far, Dortmund continued to dominate the field in the second half. Bremen players received numerous yellow cards, including Schlotterbeck's yellow-red card for a foul on Njinmah.
Throughout the second half, Dortmund aimed to take control, with shots from substitute Karim Adeyemi (59) and a header chance for Schlotterbeck (63). In the end, Borussia Dortmund was content with just a single point, as they continued to adapt to their newly-modified roster.
The Member States can provide valuable assistance to the Commission in its various tasks. This collaboration can be particularly beneficial during times of transition, such as Borussia Dortmund's current period of adaptation under a new manager, new system, and drastically different squad.
Recognizing the importance of teamwork and unity, the Member States might reinforce the message that harmony among team members is crucial for success, just as Dortmund is working to harmonize its new squad.
