“We’d have won the CL”: Weidenfeller reveals BVB shock | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund experienced a magical 2013 Champions League season full of ecstasy and drama. Roman Weidenfeller has now revealed why, in his view, Götze’s transfer cost BVB the title.

Roman Weidenfeller gave an impressive account on the podcast by Calcio Berlin of just how emotional the 2012/13 Champions League season really was for Borussia Dortmund. Back then, ecstasy and disappointment were especially close together.

For the former BVB goalkeeper, the focus is on the legendary quarter-final against Málaga CF. After a 0-0 draw in the first leg, Dortmund turned the second leg around in the final seconds to claim a dramatic 3-2 victory. Weidenfeller describes the atmosphere at Signal Iduna Park as extraordinary: “It was a magical atmosphere here, it was unbelievable.”

On the pitch, the upward momentum initially continued. In the semi-final, BVB crushed Real Madrid 4-1 in the first leg. Dortmund did lose the return leg 0-2, but still reached the final. But shortly before those matches, the euphoria was abruptly halted by Mario Götze’s move to rivals FC Bayern Munich. Roman Weidenfeller recalls the moment within the team when the impending transfer became known: “We were informed shortly beforehand, and at some point a little phone chain started going around.”

Götze’s transfer shocked BVB

The reaction, he said, was marked by disbelief: “We could hardly believe it.” The situation was especially difficult for Götze himself: “Mario couldn’t really look us in the eye.”

Photo: IMAGO

According to Weidenfeller, the transfer had a clear sporting impact: “It really felt like the plug had been pulled on us.” And he goes even further: “I’d say that if Mario had stayed with us for the rest of the season, we might not necessarily have lost the final.”

Dortmund ultimately lost that final 2-1 to Bayern in an all-German showdown — without the injured Götze. The season therefore shows just how close BVB came to triumph. At the same time, it makes clear how deeply one of the most spectacular transfers in Bundesliga history shook the team internally. For Weidenfeller, above all, the feeling remains that this moment changed more than just the squad planning. It struck at the very heart of a team that was on the verge of reaching the top of Europe.

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