As early as the wee hours of the morning, fans of Borussia Dortmund (BVB) gathered outside the stadium and around the city. By 6:15 a.m., the first supporters were already lining up outside Signal Iduna Park, and soon, thousands joined them. The big question on everyone’s mind: Will Dortmund secure a victory against Mainz and take the title, or will Bayern Munich snatch it away with a win in Cologne, coupled with a slip-up from the Black and Yellows?
One thing is certain: the fans in Dortmund are ready and excited. Since early morning, the city has been buzzing with anticipation, and the possibility of their first championship since 2012 has electrified not only Dortmund’s supporters but the entire nation of Germany.
Klopp: Bayern as Champions? “It’s no fun when…”
Jürgen Klopp, the last Dortmund coach to claim a championship, is rooting for BVB in the Bundesliga title race from England. “I hope Dortmund wins. (…) I know what it would mean for the city and in general. I can imagine that Bayern might see it differently, but it’s no fun when the same team always becomes champion,” said Klopp during a press conference before Liverpool’s final season match against Southampton. “We all know that Bayern will strike back next year anyway. So if there’s a gap, you have to go through it. It looks like they could do it,” added the 55-year-old who led BVB to championships in 2011 and 2012.
Kohler Praises Dortmund and Criticizes Bayern
Former national soccer player Jürgen Kohler (57) has criticized the composition of FC Bayern Munich’s squad. “The big problem with FC Bayern is that they lack absolute world-class players,” he told “Sport1”. “Gnabry, Sané, or Mané were brought in, okay, but they are not top players like Ribery or Robben once were. These three players have never consistently delivered 100% over a longer period.” Kohler predicted, “There will be a change at Bayern Munich; otherwise, I see a bleak future.” The former Bayern and Dortmund player, however, praised BVB, stating, “The team’s structure is better than Bayern’s. If Sébastien Haller hadn’t had his cancer diagnosis, the gap between them would not have been nine points in the winter.”
NRW Minister Encourages Dortmund with Beckenbauer Quote
Mona Neubaur, North Rhine-Westphalia’s Green Party Minister of Economic Affairs, rooted for Borussia Dortmund in their fight for the football championship title using a Bavarian twist on a famous quote by Franz Beckenbauer. “Go out and play football,” tweeted the native Bavarian on Saturday, slightly altering the words of “the Kaiser.” “Show that incredible willpower again, score one more goal than the opponent,” Neubaur wrote before the match between Borussia Dortmund and FSV Mainz. “Bring that thing to Dortmund.” Neubaur’s use of a Beckenbauer quote to cheer on league leader BVB could be seen as a subtle jab at FC Bayern Munich.
