Dortmund lost 151 million during COVID times

Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke told Sunday's AGM the club had emerged battered but afloat from the Covid-19 pandemic with a cost of 151 million euros. The CEO said Dortmund had made "500 million euros in sales" including player transfers in the previous financial year, saying "economically nobody needs to worry about Borussia Dortmund."

But he told club members he suffered sleepless nights at the time.

"We have left the valley of darkness behind us, but it cost us 151 million".

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Known for scouting and selling talents on for big profits, Dortmund sold England midfielder Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid in the summer for a fee of up to 130 million euros. Dortmund had a chance to win their first league title in a decade last season but drew 2-2 at home against mid-table Mainz to hand the title to rivals Bayern Munich. Watzke called the result "the most terrible day of my life".

"Something like this can destroy a club or paralyse it for years... but this club is too strong."

The CEO also promised Dortmund would never join a European Super League "no matter what happens." After 12 league matches this season, Dortmund sits in fourth place and is ten points behind leader Bayer Leverkusen.

"We were hoping for two or three more points at this stage, but the sky isn't falling" Watzke said

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In the Champions League, Dortmund are first in a group which also includes Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Newcastle. Dortmund travel to Milan on Tuesday for a clash which is likely to prove crucial in determining who makes the knockout stages of the competition.

"On Tuesday, we have a chance to qualify early with a win. I wouldn't have dared to dream of that at the time of the draw" Watzke said.

© Agence France-Presse

BUNDESLIGA - Matchday 12

Friday

Koln - Bayern 0-1 (0-1)

/Kane 20/

Saturday

BVB - Borussia Monchengladbach 4-2 (3-2)

/Sabitzer 30, Fullkrug 32, Bynoe-Gittens 45, Malen 90+7 - Reitz 13, Kone 28/

Freiburg - Darmstadt 1-1 (1-1)

/Holer 35 - Honsak 18/

Union Berlin - Augsburg 1-1 (0-1)

/Volland 88 - Demirovic 39 pen/

Werder - Leverkusen 0-3 (0-2)

/Deman 9 og, Frimpong 43, Grimaldo 76/

Wolfsburg - RB Leipzig 2-1 (1-0)

/Wind 9, Rogerio 66 - Poulsen 52/

Eintracht Frankfurt - Stuttgart 1-2 (1-2)

/Anton 26 og - Undav 1, 45+1/

Sunday

17.30: (2.35) Heidenheim (3.60) Bochum (3.20)

19.30: (1.94) Hoffenheim (3.60) Mainz (4.00)

***odds are subject to change