Nuri Sahin has always moved fast. At 16, he broke a record as the youngest ever Bundesliga player. At 36, he's coach of last season's Champions League runner-up Borussia Dortmund .
Just 13 games into his tenure, it's falling apart fast, too. Sahin and Dortmund face Leipzig on Saturday with the coach's future in question following three losses in a row in all competitions — five in away games — and with a squad ravaged by injuries. “It's not about me, it's about the club, and I'm in a position of responsibility as the coach,” Sahin told broadcaster Sky.
Dortmund management is publicly backing Sahin, with sporting director Sebastian Kehl calling on the club to “stand together” in adversity. There are other factors to consider besides the results, too. Sahin has faced criticism for the way Dortmund collapsed against Real Madrid from a 2-0 lead to lose 5-2 — especially for his decision to add an extra defender just before Madrid's comeback — but few teams even get a 2-0 lead at Madrid in the first place.
Just how well Dortmund should be playing is up for debate, too. The squad arguably overperformed by reaching the Champions League final last season, when it was fifth in the Bundesliga. Being seventh in the table right now isn't a drastic decline — not yet, anyway.
Then there's the injury list. Sahin was down to a bare-bones squad at Wolfsburg on Tuesday, with two midfielders covering for injured defenders. His bench options were limited to reserve team players .