Dortmund Coach Nuri Sahin Prepares Team For Dinamo Zagreb's Impressive Threat In Champions League

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Borussia Dortmund's coach, Nuri Sahin, has expressed concern about Dinamo Zagreb's potential threat in their upcoming Champions League match. He highlighted Dinamo's recent form, remaining unbeaten in their last three games with two wins and a draw, following a heavy defeat to Bayern Munich. Dortmund currently sit seventh in the Champions League standings after securing three victories.

Dinamo Zagreb, based in the Croatian capital, are positioned eighteenth in the play-off section with seven points from four matches. Their most notable performance was a 9-2 loss to Bayern on the opening day. Despite this setback, Sahin acknowledged the quality within Nenad Bjelica's squad. "We've watched a lot of Dinamo's matches. They've impressively earned seven points," Sahin stated during a press conference.

Sahin praised Dinamo's coach for his influence on the team, noting that they reflect his ideas and possess strong players with big names. "We don't want to stray from our idea. We want to control the ball and play football. But we're ready," he added.

Despite injuries keeping Niklas Sule and Karim Adeyemi in Dortmund, Sahin confirmed that Emre Can and Serhou Guirassy have travelled with the team for the match. "Emre wasn't able to fully participate in today's session. But Serhou trained well," Sahin mentioned, indicating both players could be options for the game.

This encounter marks Dortmund's first against a Croatian side in European competitions. The last time they faced a new nation was against APOEL Nicosia from Cyprus in October 2017, resulting in a 1-1 draw.

Challenges Against German Teams

Dinamo Zagreb have struggled against German teams recently, losing their last seven encounters while scoring six goals and conceding 25 across all European competitions. The upcoming match will take place at Stadion Maksimir, known for its intense atmosphere.

Sahin remains confident that his team will not be intimidated by the venue's atmosphere. "I don't think it will shock the players. Our squad operates at the highest level. They've seen and experienced a lot," he stated confidently.

Dortmund also boasts an impressive home atmosphere, particularly with their famous Yellow Wall of fans in the southern stand. "What happens in the stands doesn't matter much. The players enjoy it," Sahin concluded.