Hans-Joachim Watzke: “It will take a while before automatisms return”

Managing Director Hans-Joachim Watzke from Borussia Dortmund feels responsible for the stadium, which was sold out again for the first time on Saturday against RB Leipzig (6.30 p.m.). “You can tell that people are still interested in Borussia Dortmund, I’m very happy about that, even if it will take time for things to return automatically,” he told the newspapers Funk media group.

For the first time in 763 days, 81,365 spectators are expected to watch the top game. “All of us in this society have suffered a lot in the past two years,” said Watzke: “In these 24 months it was very difficult between the club and the fans to keep in touch in this close form.” For this reason alone, Saturday will be “a special day for us”, the thought of it “gives goosebumps to him”.

The loss of more than 120 million euros is “not so important to him at this moment,” said Watzke: “Nevertheless, our business model is of course coming into play again. That helps us a lot.” The economic relief is pushed into the background by the “emotional boost”.