Nuri Sahin has ended an unsatisfactory time at Signal Iduna Park. Under the former Real Madrid star, BVB performed miserably, were eliminated from the DFB Pokal and are currently languishing in 10th place in the Bundesliga.
This is a scenario that no one could have imagined at the beginning of the season because at the end of last season, Dortmund reached the Champions League final and had the chance to defeat Real Madrid. A stable frame was thought to help the Rurh team flourish this season. However, everything turned out to be completely opposite.
Mike Tullberg (currently in charge of the Dortmund U19 team) will take charge as interim manager for the game against Werder Bremen at the weekend. After that, BVB will have to find a new coach. The first leg of the season is the tourmalet, if they do not stabilize soon, they could completely collapse in their ambition to find a ticket to the Champions League next season.
Among the potential candidates, Erik ten Hag has emerged as the brightest star. The former Manchester United captain is currently unemployed and has no plans. Unlike Manchester United, Dortmund is currently the leading team in Germany, reaching the Champions League final at the end of last season.
Last season's strength is still intact at Signal Iduna Park, with many key players agreeing to stay and not leave in the summer of 2024. With such a quality squad, Ten Hag has a good chance to continue proving his ability. Not only that, the pressure in the Bundesliga is not as high as in the Premier League, which can help the Dutch strategist feel more comfortable.
However, the biggest obstacle in this deal is Ten Hag's inherent viewpoint. The 54-year-old coach once declared that he only wanted to lead a team from the beginning, not to intervene in the middle of the season. However, with a person who just failed miserably at Man United, does Ten Hag have the right to choose?
Looking at Ruben Amorim's case, when Man United asked, they only gave the Portuguese captain a yes or no option and had to give an immediate answer. Amorim saw the opportunity to work at Old Trafford as too good so he accepted. The same should be done with Ten Hag because good opportunities do not always come.
The reason why Ten Hag is mentioned a lot is because the attacking style of play he has worked hard to build is very suitable for Dortmund's style. During Nuri Sahin's time in charge, BVB played passively in almost every match. The Rurh team is mentioned for its attacking identity, Ten Hag can restore that image.
The biggest obstacle now is still Ten Hag's decision. His hasty decision to join Man United has ruined his career. If he continues to not consider carefully before Dortmund's offer, once he accepts the assignment, Ten Hag may continue to suffer many more failures.
