On Wednesday evening (9 p.m.) Borussia Dortmund has an absolutely top game on the program with the first leg of the round of 16 in the Champions League. With FC Chelsea, the club that just threw millions around in the winter is waiting. BVB sports director Sebastian Kehl does not see the Londoners at an advantage.
“The probability of winning is 50 percent. We said that at the draw and I would also sign that at this point in time,” Kehl is quoted as saying on “bvb.de”.
The ex-Borussen captain expects “very close games”, but with “two top performances” you can get through the round of the last 16 clubs, Kehl is sure.
However, the 43-year-old also makes it very clear that Chelsea, who are currently struggling in the English Premier League, will by no means be taken lightly. “The Champions League stage is something very special for Chelsea too, and the boys will be excited about it,” said Kehl.
In addition, the Blues “invested a lot of money” and “bought good players”. Despite the sporting crisis with ninth place in the league, a “high quality” team will be visiting Dortmund on Wednesday. BVB must therefore “be very careful”.
Chelsea FC have already invested 611 million euros in newcomers since the summer, of which around 325 million euros in winter alone – a new record.
In terms of sport, however, the turnaround has not yet been completed: two meager 0-0 wins against FC Fulham and West Ham United have further aggravated the misery.
BVB benefits from “competition”
Things are completely different at BVB, who won all of their six competitive games in 2023. Kehl is happy about this fact, but the sports director has positioned his foot noticeably close to the euphoria brake.
“It’s good that we won a few games, but we still have to focus on what got us there,” emphasized Kehl. “The fact that hard work has paid off, intensive training sessions and the competition have led to the fact that we now have this self-confidence. You earn something like that, you don’t get it for free. But you don’t have it forever either.”
Warning words, but they cannot gloss over the fact that the chance of progressing against the Londoners is probably greater than one could have hoped for in the draw.
They also hold this opinion sport.de-Users. In a survey, a whopping 73 percent are convinced that BVB will progress.