Borussia Dortmund Seeks Champions League Glory In Opener Against Club Brugge

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Borussia Dortmund aim to emulate their impressive Champions League journey from last season, according to head coach Nuri Sahin. As they prepare for Wednesday's match against Club Brugge, Sahin is set to guide Dortmund in Europe's top club competition for the first time. The 36-year-old took over as manager in June, succeeding Edin Terzic, who led Dortmund to the final last year.

Despite losing 2-0 to Real Madrid in the final at Wembley, Sahin is eager for another strong European campaign. "After two or three matchdays, you will see how it's going," Sahin told reporters on Tuesday. "As a finalist last year, we're self-confident. Dortmund are a name in Europe. We want to live up to that and go through. We want to play a good role in all competitions."

Dortmund face a challenge as only one of the last five losing Champions League finalists have started their next campaign with a win. Manchester City achieved this with a 6-3 victory over RB Leipzig in the 2021-22 season. Now under Sahin's leadership, Dortmund hope to break this trend.

Sahin, born in Germany and a former Turkey international, played 274 matches for Dortmund. He was part of the team that won the Bundesliga in 2010-11 and reached the Champions League final in 2012-13 under Jurgen Klopp. Now ready for his managerial debut on this grand stage, Sahin has begun his Bundesliga season with seven points from three matches.

"I'm delighted to be a coach in the Champions League. This is special," Sahin expressed his excitement about leading Dortmund on such a prestigious platform. However, he anticipates a challenging encounter against Club Brugge, who have secured four wins out of seven matches in the Belgian Pro League.

Sahin shared insights into their preparation: "Since we've known that we're playing against them, we've watched very many matches. The team has a clear philosophy of play and principles, a good team," he added.

As Dortmund embark on this new chapter under Sahin's guidance, they carry the ambition of making significant strides in Europe once again. With careful preparation and strategic planning, they hope to overcome initial hurdles and establish themselves as formidable contenders in this year's competition.