“Always looking for excuses” - Didi Hamann aims stinging criticism at Nuri Sahin and Borussia Dortmund

After Borussia Dortmund’s latest setback away from home against Mainz 05, Didi Hamann did not hold back on his criticism of Nuri Sahin and his side.

Saturday saw Borussia Dortmund suffer their sixth straight defeat away from home (and fourth in the Bundesliga) as they were beaten 3-1 by Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga. The Black and Yellows already find themselves ten points behind league leaders Bayern Munich only ten games into the season.

Didi Hamann critical of Borussia Dortmund after latest defeat

After the game, Nuri Sahin blamed Emre Can’s red card in the first-half for the defeat. Sebastian Kehl also felt that the sending off changed the course of the game. But Didi Hamann criticised the statements and claimed that it comes off as them looking for excuses for the defeat.

During his appearance on Sky Sport, the former Liverpool and Manchester City midfielder said, “That's not good enough for me, I don't accept that. We're talking about the Champions League finalists and a team that almost got relegated last year. You have to expect to keep the game open, even with ten men.”

“I get the feeling that people are always looking for excuses. Today it's Can, next week it's someone else. I understand that they have played a lot. But this way you give the players an alibi… If you tell these players that, they'll always have it in the back of their minds. And they certainly won't get anywhere that way.”

Borussia Dortmund undoubtedly have plenty of work to do going into the international break, with the pressure piling on Nuri Sahin and his side. BVB have a number of big games coming up in the coming weeks, including against Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona. Next up is a home game against SC Freiburg.