Borussia Dortmund overcame Club Brugge in their opening game of the Champions League in its new format on Wednesday night, but one player that is dissatisfied with his new role in the team is Marcel Sabitzer.
Operating in the half-spaces alongside Julian Brandt and behind Karim Adeyemi and Donyell Malen is Marcel Sabitzer. The Austrian has taken on the new role under head coach, Nuri Şahin but has struggled to adapt.
“The six is better,” Sabitzer told Sky Germany. “It’s such a different game for me [in this new position] than in the centre, not the ideal position. But you play where the coach puts you. You have to respect that.”
Sabitzer enjoyed an excellent Rückrunde with Borussia Dortmund last season, helping his team to the Champions League final but with the addition of Pascal Groß from Brighton, the 30-year-old finds himself in a new role.
When questioned about Sabitzer’s role against Club Brugge on Wednesday night, Şahin added that he “knows that he prefers to play at number six,” but he “wanted him against Maxim de Cuyper” against the Belgian side.
Dortmund were far from convincing despite a 3-0 win against Club Brugge and against VfB Stuttgart at the weekend, Şahin has some big decisions to make.
