Dortmund Boss Gives Reason He ‘Refused’ to Allow His Team to Train at Madrid’s Bernabeu

• Less than five months after Real Madrid beat Dortmund in the 2023/24 UCL final, the two giants meet again this season
• In anticipation of Tuesday’s blockbuster, the Bundesliga club opted not to hold their training session at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu
• Head coach Nuri Sahin has finally explained why his side opted against the odd yet understandable tactic

Borussia Dortmund manager Nuri Sahin has disclosed why his side opted to skip the customary pre-match training session at the Santiago Bernabeu ahead of their Champions League encounter against Real Madrid.

Traditionally, visiting teams hold at least one session at the host stadium before such high-stakes games.

Dortmund 'refuse' to train at Santiago Bernabeu

In a surprising move, Sahin chose to break from tradition, with Dortmund staying at their own facilities in Germany to prepare.

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According to a report from Diario AS, the Bundesliga giants decided to carry out their final training in Germany before boarding a flight to Madrid, only holding the usual pre-match press conference upon arrival.

This decision raised eyebrows, with speculation swirling around potential concerns over spying or strategic advantages.

Sahin explains why Dortmund 'refused' to train in Madrid

Nuri Sahin, however, dismissed any such theories, providing a straightforward explanation for his choice.

Addressing the media, he clarified, as quoted by Tribuna:

"We have many away matches coming up in the next few weeks, and we want to make the most of our facilities.

"I've read about spies, but that's unrelated. Today, we have all the videos to analyse [games]. I just wanted to give them [the Borussia Dortmund players] a bit more time to spend at home."

Sahin's reasoning highlights a more practical approach.

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"If you train after travelling, after two hours on the plane, it's different," the Dortmund boss explained.

"That's all there's to it. We've exchanged [videos of] games with Madrid; they've seen our matches, and we've seen theirs."

Dortmund's red-hot form

Dortmund's form this season backs up Sahin's confidence.

They currently sit at the top of their group in the new Champions League format, boasting two wins from two and a remarkable 10 goals scored.

Dortmund skips Santiago Bernabéu training

Earlier, Briefly News reported that following Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Celta Vigo, attention in the Spanish capital shifts to their crucial UEFA Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund.

After losing to Lille on matchday 2, Los Blancos sit in 17th place in the UCL standings, making this a must-win game to regain ground.

Source: YEN.com.gh