"Football god" Hummels finally lets Aki Watzke sleep
Borussia Dortmund is taking its fans on a wild rollercoaster ride this season. Not a matter of course, at least according to managing director Watzke before the 3:1 win at AC Milan. The sleepless 64-year-old sees the birth of a soccer god in the San Siro. His tired head can rest.
Hans-Joachim Watzke still can't understand it. The day that should have been the crowning glory of his late work still weighs heavily on him. On a glorious Saturday in May, everything was ready in Dortmund. The hawkers were selling their championship scarves, the people of the beer capital only knew one thing: BVB is back, German champions this year.
But instead, May 27, 2023 only squeezed the last tear out of Borussia fans after the fear-paralyzed 2:2 against FSV Mainz. A city, not just a club, was devastated. Only rarely have more desolate scenes been witnessed in a city after a soccer match. The game had not led BVB to the championship, but to what felt like relegation. The defiant chants from the south terrace were of no use. They only served to reassure each other of the nightmare they had lived through together.
"It was the day of the biggest disappointment of my life," the now 64-year-old Sauerland native told the shareholders of Borussia Dortmund GmbH & Co KGaA these days. In its self-description, Borussia Dortmund counts itself as one of the "strongest international football clubs". On that Saturday in May, BVB did everything it could to sharpen this brand in the most unfavorable way.
"That can destroy a club"
The whole world had looked first with astonishment and then with pity at these perennial Bundesliga losers. BVB had not carelessly thrown away a decade-long chance at the championship, but rather had been crushed by the pressure. It was up to them to break Bayern's dominance and their failure was fatal. Hans-Joachim Watzke, the CEO who is rarely called Aki Watzke anymore, could not sleep that day. One worry was driving him. "I knew that something like this could destroy a club or at least damage it for years to come," he said on that Monday.
In fact, Borussia has so far presented itself as a battered club in this post-season, which is now heading towards the winter break, and has been shaken by internal and external doubts in equal measure since the first game of the season, a 1-0 defeat against 1. FC Köln. The unrest has settled over Dortmund in recent months like the ash clouds of Eyjafjallajökull once did over Europe. They are paralyzing the club, which can no longer sell its successes as successes and whose failures are being dissected with relish.
Another thing that deeply disturbs Watzke. "For months now, we've been subjected to a media barrage the likes of which I haven't seen for ages. I have to make sure every week that we're not playing against relegation," he grumbled: "We won't allow people to try to destroy us because it will generate more clicks. We ask for fair reporting with an analytical approach."
A likeable but eternal runner-up
It was precisely the analytical approach that had hardly left a good hair on BVB soccer, even after Bundesliga victories. The heroic soccer celebrated by coach Edin Terzić only worked in a few moments without the last hero Jude Bellingham, who had left for Real Madrid. The game, which focused on defensive stability, collapsed time and again and led to some inexplicable performances. The bankruptcies against Bayern Munich (0:4) and VfB Stuttgart (1:2) were just the poster child. This highly-paid team has played too many puzzling games this season.
Especially in the spotlight of Bayer Leverkusen's overwhelming soccer and VfB Stuttgart's miracle story, Dortmund have been left with little limelight. Instead, they have spent most of this season disappearing into the clouds of ash that are settling over the club from the remains of Watzke's ground zero, May 27, 2023.
The year 2023 is the year in which BVB cemented itself internationally as a likeable but perennial runner-up for a long time. Nationally, this popularity seems to be dwindling outside the club's own fan bubble. Borussia Dortmund is no longer sexy. And is once again in danger of missing out on the Champions League this fall. Almost traditionally. Apart from one exceptional year, the last Klopp year, they have not yet let this upset them. But there is always a crisis in the fall.
A soccer god is born
Under these conditions and with a little breathing space, the 4:2 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach in the bag, BVB now faced injury-plagued AC Milan in Milan's San Siro in the so-called group of death of the Champions League with its collection of old and Bundesliga all-stars. The starting conditions were clear: a win would see them through to the last 16 of the top flight. Which on this fifth matchday would be tantamount to a minor sensation. And Borussia succeeded. In the 3:1 win, they showed what makes them special.
In their good moments, the team led by club legend Mats Hummels, who was later proclaimed the "soccer god" by coach Terzić, is a ripped, internationally highly experienced squad. One that can defend itself against setbacks, that can suffer in a game and, in Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, can suddenly conjure up a new super Englishman after Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham.
The 19-year-old, who has been plagued by shoulder problems for many years, scored his first goal in the top flight with a penalty in the second half. This, a well-timed low shot after a wonderful combination via Marco Reus, Niclas Füllkrug and Marcel Sabitzer, left him dreaming: "It was the perfect game for me to score here at the San Siro. I tried to take the shot early, then the celebration was great. I think we can go far," he said, and was then allowed to pick up his praise.
"He still has room for improvement in his decision-making," said Niclas Füllkrug, one of BVB's Bundesliga all-stars, and then went on: "But he's always dangerous for the opposition. We know that we don't have to support him one-on-one. It's worth its weight in gold to have a player like that in the team and we'll be delighted if he continues like this." Unconsciously, Füllkrug had also focused on what has kept BVB down in recent years and what has made them the club that everyone keeps despairing about.
Of course Mister 1:0 scores
BVB's perseverance on the premier class plateau is only possible for the sometimes collapsing, sometimes wavering and sometimes convincing giant from the Ruhr region thanks to the proceeds on the transfer market. For the first time in several years, however, it requires almost excessive imagination to spot a new Bellingham, a new Erling Haaland or a new Sancho in the squad.
Borussia have adapted their model, relying on experience and what is thrown at them as blandly average after a bad game. Bynoe-Gittens is now only the exception and indeed the one who could still turn into gold for BVB due to his age and nationality.
Not only on the pitch, where the London-born player also benefited from exceptional individual defensive performances. Gregor Kobel saved yet another penalty, Marco Reus delivered as Mister 1:0 and Hummels straddled almost every AC attacker, just like in the World Cup finals. Coach Terzić, who knows more about BVB's club history than almost anyone else, even felt reminded of Jürgen Kohler.
Hans-Joachim Watzke can sleep in
"Kohler became a soccer god in Manchester back then. I don't know whether his performance back then was better than Mats' today," he exaggerated, ignoring the fact that Kohler ended Éric Cantona's career in Manchester in 1997. He ended his career just a few weeks after the game.
No news has yet emerged about the retirement of Milan striker Olivier Giroud. However, this is completely irrelevant, as Giroud is unlikely to play for Dortmund in the Champions League this season.
In the final match against Paris Saint-Germain in mid-December, the only thing left to play for is who wins the group of death. BVB have already left Newcastle United and AC Milan behind them after five matchdays. Based on everything we know about Borussia Dortmund 2023, that really is a sensation. And because they didn't die on May 27, 2023, they are still alive today. Hans-Joachim Watzke can finally sleep in again.
Source: www.ntv.de
