Dortmund CEO watzke Hails Bayern‘s Champions League Performance as “grand Sport”
Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke lauded Bayern Munich’s 2-1 victory over Manchester United,describing the frist half as “among the best I’ve seen in recent years.” Watzke’s comments, made Friday to Sky, come as both German powerhouses navigate crucial stages of European and domestic competition.
The praise from a rival club’s executive underscores the importance of Bayern’s strong showing on the international stage for German football. While acknowledging a desire for greater domestic competition in the Bundesliga, Watzke emphasized the importance of Bayern’s success in elevating the league’s profile globally. The comments also arrive as Borussia Dortmund maintains its own Champions League ambitions and solidifies its position in the Bundesliga standings.
Watzke conceded the match became “a bit tight” following Luis Diaz’s red card, but ultimately celebrated Bayern’s convincing win and impactful first-half performance. “That was grand sport from FC Bayern,” he stated.He expressed hope for increased competition at the top of the Bundesliga but added, “We should be pleased internationally when a club like Bayern Munich represents the Bundesliga so brilliantly.”
Turning to Borussia Dortmund, Watzke highlighted the team’s continued progress despite a 1-4 defeat against Manchester City, which still leaves them “on course for the knockout phase” of the Champions League. Domestically, Dortmund currently holds third place in the Bundesliga after a period of stability. He credited coach Niko Kovac, with whom he shares “an exceptionally good relationship,” as a key factor in the team’s success. “he’s been a stroke of luck for us. he’s doing very, very well and is very calm. But he has to prove that every third day, preferably on Saturday in Hamburg.”
Looking ahead, dortmund faces a challenging DFB-Pokal round of 16 matchup against Bayer Leverkusen, drawn on Sunday. Watzke wryly noted the team’s history of difficult cup draws, stating, “We’ve been getting disaster lots for years, so I didn’t expect anything else.” He did, though, express relief that the match will be played at home.
