Here’s a summary of the provided content, adhering to the specified word count and including a "Key Takeaways" section:
Key Takeaways
- Hans-Joachim Watzke, Borussia Dortmund’s outgoing CEO, expressed admiration for Bayern Munich’s dominant Champions League performance against Paris Saint-Germain.
- Watzke acknowledged Bayern’s impressive representation of the Bundesliga on the international stage.
- He also expressed satisfaction with Borussia Dortmund’s progress, highlighting the positive impact of coach Niko Kovac, but recognises the coach is under pressure to consistently perform.
- Watzke lamented Borussia Dortmund’s consistent draw of difficult opponents in the DFB-Pokal, referencing the upcoming match against Bayer Leverkusen.
Summary
Hans-Joachim Watzke, the soon-to-depart CEO of Borussia Dortmund, shared his thoughts on Bayern Munich’s recent Champions League victory against Paris Saint-Germain. Watzke, speaking to Sky, confessed to experiencing a mixture of admiration and excitement while watching the match. He particularly praised Bayern’s performance in the first half, describing it as one of the best he had witnessed in recent years. He acknowledges that the game became tense after Luis Diaz was sent off, but the way Bayern won was great, and the first half was particularly impressive.
Despite the rivalry between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, Watzke emphasized the importance of supporting German clubs in international competitions. He believes that Bayern Munich’s strong performance in the Champions League reflects positively on the Bundesliga as a whole, stating that the international stage should be proud that a club like Bayern Munich represents the Bundesliga so well. Watzke expressed a desire for more competitive balance in the Bundesliga domestically, but focused on the strength that Bayern can bring to the sport.
Turning to Borussia Dortmund, Watzke expressed satisfaction with the club’s progress, both in the Champions League, where they are on track to advance to the knockout stage, and in the Bundesliga, where they currently hold third place. He attributed this success to several factors, including the positive influence of coach Niko Kovac.
Watzke stated that he has an exceptionally good relationship with Niko Kovac and described Kovac as a "stroke of luck" for Borussia Dortmund. He praised Kovac’s calm and collected demeanor while noting the constant pressure Kovac faces to deliver results, emphasizing that Kovac "must prove himself every third day," with a particular focus on the upcoming match in Hamburg.
However, Watzke did express disappointment regarding Borussia Dortmund’s draw in the DFB-Pokal. The team is set to face Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16. Watzke lamented the club’s consistent misfortune in drawing difficult opponents in the cup competition, jokingly stating that they always seem to get "disaster draws." He did note that at least this time the game will be played at home.
