Lars Ricken: “My great desire is to build something with people who identify 100 percent with the BVB.”

Borussia Dortmund’s Managing Director of Sport Lars Ricken used the club’s General Meeting to put speculation to bed about some of the club's most important personnel. This included both Sebastian Kehl and Nuri Şahin.

In terms of Kehl, there’s been a lot of focus on whether or not he will continue in his role as Sporting Director. With a contract that is coming to an end in 2025, there has been quite a bit of speculation as to whether the club would renew him in this role. Ricken made it clear that he believes in Kehl and wants to continue working with him in this capacity.

Ricken also took the time to back Şahin despite the difficult start to the season. He applauded Şahin’s self-reflective nature and ability to take responsibility for this side, and claimed that he is improving as a coach by the game:

"We trust our team and we trust our coach. With Nuri, I think, we have a top coach who becomes an even better coach with every game and every difficult situation…You put yourself in front of your team, you put yourself in front of your players, you are self-critical. That's clearly a path we want to go."

- Lars Ricken

Ricken's staunch support of both Kehl and Şahin stems from his wish to be able to create something at Dortmund with people who know the club in and out; something that both Kehl and Şahin clearly have in their arsenal. Both were instrumental during their playing days, with Kehl in particular captaining the team throughout Jürgen Klopp's successful era as Dortmund's head coach:

"My great desire is to develop something, to build something with people who identify 100 percent with the BVB."

- Lars Ricken

Of course, Ricken’s career with BVB is the stuff of legend, with the then-young midfielder playing an immense role in helping Dortmund lift the 1997 Champions League trophy. Having been there himself, Ricken himself has in-depth insight into the recipe that got Dortmund to that successful point in their history.

Ricken's support and seeming conviction with Kehl and Şahin puts the club on course to go forward with the current project instead of deviating in favor of a "safer" route, especially in terms of Şahin as head coach. Şahin is young and there have been calls for the club to re-evaluate if he is the right man for the job.

Ricken's support will be put to the test this weekend as Dortmund face their hardest test yet; Bayern Munich's visit to the Westfalenstadion. Şahin and his charges will have an impeccable chance to reward the support Ricken has shown, and possibly start to win over skeptics about their chance to succeed in their current state.