Over the years, the Hacks Regulations in the Bundesliga had been in the Bundesliga that the greatest competitor in Germany is Borussia Dortmund on the sovereign industry leader FC Bayern. But is this statement still correct after Bayer Leverkusen has become champion and runner -up in recent years and finally Eintracht Frankfurt had passed the BVB? Managing Director Hans-Joachim Watzke has a clear opinion.
When looking at the bare sporting performance, which ended in 2024/2025 for Borussia Dortmund with the fourth place in the table and the early departure in the DFB Cup in the second round, the outgoing BVB boss did not want to misjudge the fact that competitors Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht recently exaggerated the black and yellow.
In terms of “Rahlraft”, Watzke insisted in conversation with the “Sport Bild” that BVB continues to be the second German figurehead behind FC Bayern: “Of course. We are number two for all parameters,” emphasized the 66-year-old.
“In addition to FC Bayern, a big constant”
The managing director, who will resign at the end of 20 years at the end of the year, continued to want to move back to the Werkelf from Leverkusen, even from a sporting point of view: “In terms of sport, we have unfortunately lost second place to Bayer Leverkusen. But the distance is not huge. And we will try to overtake them again. Leverkusen now has a big upheaval, it will not be easy.”
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Watzke emphasized that his club at European level was the most renowned club in Germany behind the Munich team anyway, which is already due to the sustainably strong performance in the Champions League in recent years: “We are a big constant in addition to FC Bayern.”