My soccer-filled week - Watzke outperforms Bayern in every aspect.
Two notable clubs share similarities in that they both experienced subpar performances in the Bundesliga this season. Bayern failed to win the German championship for the first time since 2012 and couldn't compete with Leverkusen. Meanwhile, Dortmund, placed fifth, would have missed the Champions League qualification for the first time since 2015 if not for the league's decision to add a fifth starting place.
Despite these challenges, Aki Watzke from BVB has outperformed his counterparts in Munich. As Bayern entertained the exit of Thomas Tuchel and faced an ongoing ritual of finding a replacement, Watzke remained steadfast in his support of Edin Terzic. Their perseverance paid off, with Terzic progressing to the finals while Bayern's attempts at change have become somewhat of a sham.
While Bayern focused on team dynamics, stirring uncertainty among their regular players, BVB reinforced their lineup by signing Ian Maatsen from Chelsea FC and Jordan Sancho returning from Manchester United during the winter break. Both athletes made an instant impact.
Additionally, Bayern has been searching for a worthy replacement for years for their club legends Hoeneß and Rummenigge. Specialists Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidzic failed in their attempts. Jan-Christian Dreesen (CEO) and Max Eberl (sports director) are now actively seeking candidates, but Hoeneß is adamant about expressing his opinions, doing so just before the semi-final against Real.
In contrast, Aki Watzke planned for his retirement, promoting Lars Ricken to his position at an early stage. Although the future success of Ricken is uncertain, Watzke made the crucial decision discreetly, surprising many in the industry.
Having been in office since 2005, Watzke has always viewed his role as competitive with Bayern, who often dismissed him as a rookie. However, he will be waving to fans at Wembley Stadium on June 1. His stay might not end there; he may even appear once more as a parting gift in Bayern's home base in Munich.
A farfetched idea? Perhaps. However, in these unpredictable soccer circumstances, it's difficult to rule out anything these days.
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Source: symclub.org
