„I have to make myself known now!“ – Watzke explains his tactics to Hoeneß | OneFootball

BVB boss Hans-Joachim Watzke has repeatedly clashed with Uli Hoeneß and other FC Bayern executives. Now he talks about his relationship with the FCB management.

Hans-Joachim Watzke explained in Sport BILD why his relationship with Bayern’s club legends Uli Hoeneß and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was subject to strong fluctuations over many years – and why this was even necessary from his point of view.

Looking back, Watzke describes how the relationship was always relaxed when there was sufficient distance between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern in the table. As soon as both clubs competed directly for sporting success, the relationship automatically became more tense. Watzke says: „My relationship with Uli Hoeneß and also with Kalle Rummenigge was always particularly good in the early years when we had as much distance between us as possible in the table. And it always deteriorated significantly when we were closer together.“

Today, according to Watzke, the relationship is much more harmonious. The rivalry has given way to mutual respect. „Uli and I have been on first-name terms for several years now,“ he says. One dinner with the Bayern executives is particularly memorable: „At a dinner with the Bayern executives, Jan-Christian Dreesen raised his glass at one point and said: ‚Here comes a historic moment!‘ Then Uli and I laughed and had a proper toast.“

Watzke on Bayern boss: „Our feuds again and again over the years“

Watzke confirms that there have been regular points of friction in recent years – but stresses that these were not based on personal dislike. Instead, it was a strategic necessity for him to show his stance in public. „But of course we have had our feuds over the years. But that was not at all due to any aggression on my part. I was and am of the opinion: Borussia Dortmund needs someone at the top who you know. Otherwise you are lost.“

photo: IMAGO

For his role in Dortmund, it was therefore clear that he had to be visible: „When I started back then, it was clear to me: I have to make myself known now! And of course, the best way to do that is to look for a few real opponents and to get in trouble sometimes.“