The BVB chief responds to observations the Bundesliga’s two biggest clubs have taken over Germany’s top flight in a similar fashion to their Spanish counterparts
Hans-Joachim Watzke has played down suggestions that Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich are starting to dominate the Bundesliga like Barcelona and Real Madrid do in Spain.
The two German clubs have joined the Liga pair in the semi-finals of the Champions League, which has sparked a discussion as to whether the respective divisions have effectively become a two-horse race.
Watzke, BVB’s general manager, told Sport 1: “I am far from being the most knowledgeable guy on La Liga. Therefore we should discuss internally.”
The BVB chief added that he would be “very happy” to talk about the potential imbalance of the Bundesliga – or “Spanish standards” as it has been referred to in the German press – privately.
“It is a bit like [in Spain],” Watzke added. “But I believe that with us is far from such distance [in quality between the top two and the rest of the league].
“If you want to permanently have top teams in the world, the league will also be dominated by them. This is the case in Spain and in England too.”
Watzke brushed off suggestions of helping fund lesser sides in the Bundesliga and insists that clubs must learn to handle their own finances and be affected by their own choices.
“We cannot go so far to interfere in the affairs of other clubs – they are responsible for their positive and negative decisions,” he added.
Dortmund host Real Madrid on Wednesday April 24, while Barca travel to Bayern a day earlier in the other Champions League semi-final.