The Borussia Dortmund chief executive, Hans-Joachim Watzke, believes that German clubs have nothing to fear from the Premier League’s new, big-money television deal, saying Germany “are the world champions, while the English will be able to celebrate a great milestone in the summer: 50 years without a title”.
Premier League clubs will have the money from a record £5.14bn TV contract with Sky and BT to splash on transfers this summer, with the budget of even the traditionally small clubs likely to dwarf the funds available to teams on the continent. However, Watzke is confident in the Bundesliga’s product. “I have no fear of the English [Premier League], we must make sure our qualities are in the foreground,” Watzke told the Kölnischen Rundschau when asked about the gulf between Germany’s clubs and their English counterparts.
“There is no need for the Bundesliga to be shy. From a football perspective, it’s just as good as the Premier League. We have superb stadiums filled with passionate fans, the average attendance is much higher, we play great football and we have first-class academies.
“We are the world champions, while the English will be able to celebrate a great milestone in the summer: 50 years without a title,” he added, a reference to the 50 year anniversary of England’s 1966 World Cup victory. Germany won the trophy in 2014.
“The English clubs also only have four teams in the Champions League and I can’t imagine that good players from Borussia Dortmund will move to Norwich City or Crystal Palace,” continued the Dortmund chief executive.
“Dortmund is among the top 10 clubs in Europe: we are a first-class address.”
