How is Nuri Sahin building his Borussia Dortmund team?

Soon after reaching a Champions League final, Edin Terzic decided to resign from his post as Borussia Dortmund head coach. The decision came as a big surprise to everyone at the club, but maybe not more than the almost immediate confirmation that club legend Nuri Sahin would fill his shoes. A lot of things have happened since then, and following a long pre-season, it is fair to say that Sahin has left his mark on the team already.

Indeed, it would be premature to predict where Sahin will take the Black and Yellows in terms of success or silverware. Still, it is reasonable to affirm that the Turkish trainer has managed to implement his style of play quicker than expected. His possession-based approach could be clearly visualised during BVB's pre-season matches, even though it will still take time for the players to assimilate the new tactics and perform on a consistent basis.

Overall, Borussia Dortmund had a solid pre-season and left a few good impressions, which also included the 4-1 Pokal win against the fourth-division side 1. FC Phönix Lübeck. The tactical pattern of Sahin-ball is becoming more apparent after every match, which doesn't mean there aren't aspects to improve upon and keep an eye on. Here are a couple of tactical insights into this new Borussia Dortmund and what to expect from the team in the coming months.