Sebastian Kehl can imagine following in Hans-Joachim Watzke’s footsteps in Dortmund. The sports director also spoke on Sunday about the situation of various BVB professionals.
How long will you continue to wear the BVB jersey? Jadon Sancho (left) and Ian Maatsen. IMAGO/Matthias Koch
What Borussia Dortmund’s squad looks like in the new season will largely depend on whether they qualify for the Champions League or not. So it’s no wonder that the sports director is holding the team accountable ahead of the groundbreaking coming weeks – and is still keeping a low profile about the future of individual players. In the Sport1 one-two Sebastian Kehl spoke about…
… the question of what it will take for winter loan signings Jadon Sancho (Manchester United) and Ian Maatsen (Chelsea) to stay beyond the season: “In the end it will take money, a lot of money. Definitely more than we have at the moment, that’s clear. We got over 80 million euros for Jadon. Manchester United will of course also be interested in getting him back either in the summer take him back or sell him again at a range that makes sense for them. Whether that also makes sense for us will be the next topic. And Ian is under contract with Chelsea. They have neither economic problems nor a problem getting him in To accommodate England. In other words: We will of course try, but we will also have to wait and see how things develop. For us, progress in the Champions League is very, very important.”
He will have to move forward in his personal development.
Sebastian Kehl about Karim Adeyemi
… the future of Mats Hummels and Marco Reus, whose contracts are expiring again: “We sat down at a certain point last year and agreed that we would continue for another year. Both players are very important to Borussia Dortmund. You treat the players very respectfully and sensibly. Marco is in the last group He’s been criticized a lot for weeks, that wasn’t justified. He’s pushing hard, he’s an important part of this team. It’s the same with Mats. We’ll have to sit down and make a decision at a certain point. But the talks haven’t taken place yet. Now we have to concentrate on what lies ahead of us.”
… Karim Adeyemi, who impressed as a goalscorer in the 2-0 win in Berlin on Saturday, and the question of what is still left for him: “There’s still a lot left in it. Karim was unfortunately injured for a while, but this is the first time he’s started again. The coach deliberately put him on the right side so that he can use his left foot à la Arjen Robben pulls inside and finds the finish. He did that very well. But Karim can improve, Karim has to improve. He’s been at Borussia Dortmund for a year and a half now. We see great potential in him. But also in his personal development he has to move forward.”
For me that would be a logical step.
Sebastian Kehl on Watzke’s successor
… his own future plans after BVB managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke announced that he would retire in autumn 2025: “If Aki leaves this position after more than 20 years, it will be a turning point for Borussia Dortmund. He announced relatively early on that he would be retiring. We will have discussions, he has indicated that, but these have not yet taken place. I’m not going to submit a letter of application for myself. I don’t need that. I’ve worked my way into this sports director position from various roles, I’m having a lot of fun with it. For me that would be a logical step. But I don’t want to pre-empt these conversations. We’ll see “Where my personal journey is headed.”