Back to the top? BVB's plan to end Bayern's dominance | OneFootball

After an overall stable season, Borussia Dortmund still remain well behind FC Bayern. BVB president Hans-Joachim Watzke has now revealed the strategy the club wants to use to close the gap.

At Borussia Dortmund, a lot is going according to plan on the sporting side: qualification for the Champions League is almost secured, and second place in the table looks stable. And yet one familiar problem remains – the gap to FC Bayern Munich is still significant.

For BVB president Hans-Joachim Watzke, the key to catching up is obvious. The club must focus more strongly on its proven strategy: developing young talents and selling them on selectively. “We have to further sharpen our approach,” Watzke emphasized in an interview with Ruhr Nachrichten, pointing to examples such as Jadon Sancho, Erling Haaland, and Jude Bellingham, who developed into world-class players in Dortmund.

At the same time, the 66-year-old makes it clear that economic reality and sporting ambition are closely linked. Only through smart transfers and profitable sales can the club remain competitive in the long term. “In the end, we have to generate enough money this way to build a good team across the board,” Watzke explains.

More “Reus moments”: BVB want creative top players

But relying on development alone apparently is no longer enough. Internally, the desire for more immediate quality in the squad is growing. Watzke puts it vividly: “I think a little more experience would do us good. […] one or two more players who make the difference.” As a benchmark, he names a former fan favorite: “So one or two players who make people say, ‘Oh, that was like Marco Reus in his best years.’”

Photo: IMAGO

Coach Niko Kovac shares that assessment as well. What he feels is missing from the current squad are players with special abilities: “What we certainly don’t have are those players that some people here would perhaps like to see – with those extra skills.”

One possible candidate who fits that profile perfectly is, of all people, a familiar face. A return for Jadon Sancho keeps being discussed. Watzke at least confirms that the idea is being considered: “We examine whether players make us better. That includes Jadon as well.” Particularly interesting: the Englishman could be available on a free transfer this summer.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.