Hans-Joachim Watzke has openly addressed the financial gulf between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. The BVB CEO labelled the record champions "overwhelming favourites" for the German title in a recent interview.
"Well, you have to be honest, we had a good Bundesliga season last year and picked up 73 points," Watzke said. "In the past, that would have been enough to win the title. Today, that's no longer the case because FC Bayern dominate everything." The 64-year-old pointed to the financial supremacy of their rivals from Munich. The economic gap between Germany's top two clubs has become so vast that Dortmund has limited power to change it, he conceded.
The Reality of the Points Total
The 73 points from last season show Watzke's point. That haul was only enough for second place, while Bayern won the title with 77 points. It was the eleventh consecutive championship for the Bavarians. Watzke stressed that the club should not kid itself. The CEO's comments come during a period of restructuring at Dortmund, visible in the club's squad composition.
The financial disparities are a constant in European football. Dortmund must operate shrewdly in the transfer market to develop and retain talented players. The club continues to rely on its proven strategy. The upcoming challenges in the race for top positions are already outlined in the new season's fixtures. Watzke made clear that the focus, despite the acknowledged imbalance, must remain on their own performance. Borussia Dortmund's next competitive match is the Bundesliga season opener on August 21.
