14 Dec 2012

Truth or insult? Watzke claims LFC not good enough for 'exceptional' £30m star...

Whether Reds fans choose to accept it or not, Liverpool are unfortunately, no longer perceived to be one of Europe's elite clubs. Twenty two years without a league title, and three years in the Champions League wilderness has a tendency to create that impression, and Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke has underlined that disappointing reality with a mild broadside against the club.

Discussing the future of Dortmund attacker Mario Götze - who was linked with a move to Liverpool in 2011 - Watzke said:

"How many teams are there really that would be a step up for him [Götze]? Liverpool or Arsenal? I'm sorry, but when will they win a title again? Not anytime soon."

The implication here is that Liverpool are not a big enough club for Götze, and that the Reds are a step-down from Dortmund, who once went 31 years without winning the league.

As the old saying goes: form is temporary, class is permanent' and although Liverpool haven't won the league in a while, the Reds will always be a bigger club than Dortmund, whose trophy cabinet is practically empty in comparison to Liverpool's.

Götze is certainly coveted around Europe, and in a recent interview, former West Germany star Gunter Netzer hailed the youngster as the future of German football:

"Götze is also a beacon of hope for the all of German football. For Dortmund, and the national team, there must be a place for [an] exceptional player like Götze."

The 20-year old has a £30m release clause in his contract, and if the Reds could afford him he would, admittedly, be a good addition to the squad. However, if Liverpool were to go for any of Dortmund's players right now, Mats Hummels would be the best option (IMO).

In a recent interview with BILD 23-year old Hummels made it clear that he planned to move on at some point. He said:

"I will say that I am keen on a transfer one day. To play football in a new country would be flattering, and in Europe there are just about four to five clubs that would really interest me. I have already had offers and one enquiry from these offers was really one of interest for me".

A touch of German efficiency at the heart of Liverpool's defence wouldn't go amiss. Hopefully, Brendan Rodgers will take note of Hummels' comments, and keep an eye on the defender over the next year.

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez came up against the German in an international game last year, and the German defender had the Urugayan in his pocket for most of the game.

Jaimie Kanwar


49 comments:

  1. Steven Gerrard is one the best midfielders in world football n he plays for liverpool FC, so who is Gotze?has Dortmund won the champions league lately? i guess not...plz stay at ur small club it can't be compared to liverpool anyday.

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  2. Playing for any Premier league club is a step upward from the Bundesliga.
    Dorkman who??

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  3. Apart from Bayern the rest of the Bundesliga are minnows in an ordinary competition Watzke could only dream of a job at Liverpool maybe one day he can clean the toilets.
    The only thing separating Liverpool and Arsenal from Gotze is overinflated values clubs put on players and lack of C.L football other than that nothing.

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  4. said it right pal
    once in a while one player emerges and they think they have conquered evrythin

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  5. Exactly look at over hyped Nuri Sahin

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  6. He's talking up his own team, hardly a surprise. But I think he misses the point if he's convinced it's all about trophies. For me the point is that football is England is the toughest in the world right now. Maybe not the prettiest or the most stylish but in terms of day in and day out hard work and quality football, it's the toughest to compete in, the hardest league to win in. So the only real questions for players in the Bundesliga is if they 1. want to play football in England and 2. want to play with a team that can compete at the top of that league. If they are simply happy to play football at the highest possible level then almost any team in England from 1 to 8 would provide you with that opportunity. If all they want is trophies then they can go play for Ajax.

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  7. sorry but hes right what he his saying is if he came to england then lfc are no longer the biggest club were also rans and have been for years we need major investment to claim our place back amongst the elite and imo that will never happen under fsg

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  8. If we needed to go for one Dortmund player now it would be Marcel Schmelzer, the best left back in Germany right now and in the world two years from now. I like Enrique but I think he lacks consistency. As for Watzke, he can say whatever he wants but his club has been up and down itself so he knows that Liverpool will and maybe is back on the up. He also knows that oil dollars won't stop us since they've managed to pip big spenders Bayern to the title for two seasons in a row now.

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  9. Steven Gerrard isn't in the top 20 of midfielders any more. He's only in the Liverpool starting XI on reputation. Dortmund average 80,000 fans a game and won the Bundesliga title 2 years in a row and finished top in a group of Ajax, City and Madrid. Now, tell me, is that a description that befits a small club.

    Liverpool have finished 7th, 5th, 8th in the last three seasons. We're still a big club but we aren't anywhere near as good as Dortmund.

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  10. Yes the Dortmund are minnows hey. 80,000 per game. Schalke are minnows hey, 60,000 per game. If the Bundesliga is so shit why did all the German clubs qualify for the Champions League yet Chelsea and Shitty couldn't?

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  11. Yes the English league is the toughest but Liverpool is not the best. Why would Götze go to Liverpool when he could go to Chelsea, United and City and actually win something besides the Carling Cup?

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  12. Over-hyped or under used? Is he any more over-hyped than Joe Allen or Steven Gerrard?

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  13. He isnt talking about Liverpools fantastic history, but their current form and potential. Maybe they Will yet again dominate the league and in Europe, but for now Liverpool (and Arsenal) would be a step down as teams not as league, because it is slightly stronger than the Bundesliga.

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  14. if Wrexham offered him 250k a week he'd go whether they're in the champions league or not, money talks and players are generally mercenaries

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  15. According to a article in the Times today, Comolli & KK prioritized going after Hendo over Gotze.

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  16. Dortmund average 80k fans per game coz they have a bigger stadium. Dortmund may have a better starting XI now but it can never be as big as Liverpool on the world map.

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  17. It is a pretty strong league. Bayern may run away with it but the rest of the top 10 are very good at the moment.

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  18. Football in England is good because English league is comprised of richer teams in general than the other clubs in other leagues. In other leagues you got one or two big clubs while everybody else struggles to attract talent. Barclay Premiere league is a cash cow and that is why everybody wants to play in it. Clubs in England can afford more big name than most other clubs in other leagues in general. The t.v revenue alone that the clubs get is out of this world. Players who play here get the most media attention than they would in any other league. The quality of play is what it is. If you took away the foreign talent in the league it would be boring to watch. This is why people want to play here. If Goetz comes to the BPL he is going to a club who will afford him and give him Champions league football ofcourse.

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  19. one day You'll say something positive without it being about KK and I'll probably pass put.

    Geez, I've heard some glass half full comments, but reading post after post of this stuff from you. You're entitled to your opinion of course, but I'm curious as to why so negative?

    LFC are still a big club, hence why we all view current standings as underachieving. If we weren't, we'd be happy with the odd trophy, and not thinking about the CL at all. All that we need is to get to that 4th place , it's the biggest hurdle to signing the best players. 4 points away, after a rubbish start.

    I'm not saying it will definitely happen. But neither can you say it definitely won't .

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  20. Yes Dortmund are still small mate have a look at the worldwide viewing audience for both clubs filling a stadium is only a small part.
    Sorry how many European titles how Dortmund won?

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  21. Steven Gerrard is in the top 5 midfielders inthe PL so your comment is utter rubbish!

    And Liverpool WILL NOT be spending 30 million on anybody ever!

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  22. fine m8 i just live in the real world,and even if or when we ger champions league football we will still be years behind the rest because they have owners an fans who will not except not being in the champions league were we are turning into a club who are happy to get the odd spot in it ,believe me fsg will take this club backwards in leaps and bounds ,i really do fear for the future of our club ,i also expect no major signings in the future and by major ,i do not mean,sturridge,ince or walcott on a free,i mean players like torres ,and suarez

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  23. Best response i've seen in a while Mike!

    Its great to see true fans and feel the LFC spirit.

    YNWA!

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  24. Torres was bought with borrowed money , probably cost us £50m with interest in the end anyway. FSG did allow us to spend £35m on a player, it was just the wrong player. It's not like they did an Arsenal and kept the money. Being pessimistic does not mean you're more realistic. I think a majority of fans realise that just spending large sums does not guarantee success. Without CL, it's hard to get that bargain player for example Carzola, because the best players want to play in the elite competition.

    If we do get top 4, then that's the time we can get those big names. In the meantime, we have to be smarter and find the Michus and Jelovic's of this game and box clever with players like Walcott who are end of contract.

    We will never keep up with Chelsea or City, but as Dortmund have proven, and Valencia in the past, you can still beat the rest with a great team and the right approach.

    We still have the name, the pull, and the fans to appeal. We just need CL football to stop being disadvantaged when, say Llorente or Erickkson look around for options

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  25. no gotze yes huntelaar

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  26. The fee does not determine the quality of the signing though does it. Look at what Citeh spent on Lescott and compare that with what we've paid for Agger, Skrtel or even what they gave for Kompany. You can hardly say Lescott is as good as those guys can you? Personally I'd be delighted with Walcott on a free. Over the moon even. Compare what Xabi cost us to what Man United paid for Anderson. What did we pay for Downing and what did Chelsea pay for Mata? We hardly got the better deal there did we. Buying players is about making the right decisions. There are maybe five clubs on the planet that can just buy as they like. Citeh, Zenit, Chelski, PSG and Real Madrid. All the others need to be smart.

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  27. its not abt liverpool being best in england but all over the world

    here is a link for UEFA TEAM RANKINGS 2012. -

    http://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/data/method4/trank2012.html

    1 FC Barcelona
    2 Manchester United
    3 Chelsea
    4 Bayern München
    5 Real Madrid
    6 Arsenal
    7 Internazionale
    8 Atlético Madrid
    9 FC Porto
    10 Olympique Lyon
    11 *************LIVERPOOL**************
    12 AC Milan
    13 Valencia
    14 Benfica
    15 Olympique Marseille.
    ..
    .
    .
    .
    .

    65 Hannover 96
    66 ************Borussia Dortmund***********
    67 Lazio Roma


    and these are the standings. dortman who?(it took some time me to notice them on list ) are at 66 place. so u can only imagine in you thought what ur talking abt. leagues n titles n wins ...

    i know it is a very emotional subject n no supporter would hold back.
    with due respect to all your success ...n liverpool being in a transition period we still are around 55 ranks above you. and simply its not abt just form. the world wide appeal , fan base , revenues, advertisement, support , busyness(money game) and yes trophies. all this counts when you say abt being a BIG CLUB.

    AT THE MOMENT LIVERPOOL ARE ABOVE YOU...irrespective to any player,staff,groundsman,watchman wants to come here over from their ...or not.

    LAST BUT NOT THE LIST....talking abt chevesky n shitty (sorry guys) just dont forget that just last year chevsky beat barca n your very own munich on ur F**KING GROUND to lift that cup. and over the years barring barcelona...that champions league trophy has always found its way to england remember that.

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  28. if he came to Liverpool maybe he would make the difference and they would be competing for the European Cup! have you ever thought of that? jeez!

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  29. Mmasseasoneshotlegg6:05 pm, December 14, 2012

    Yup, that comment pretty much sums up why England sucks at football and always will. Complete lack of self-awareness - hype, hype, hype...

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  30. Mmasseaoneshotlegg6:09 pm, December 14, 2012

    Hehe, its not like pretty much any of the current Dortmund player would walk into LFC starting eleven ;-) Other than Suarez and Gerrard Dortmund is better at every position...

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  31. Mmasseasoneshotlegg6:12 pm, December 14, 2012

    In the last decade? Exactly the same number as Liverpool. In the last two decades? It's 2:1 LFC. Now when it comes to league titles we better not start - could be embarrassing for the Reds, hehe.

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  32. your a bundle of fun aren't you, lol, you don't have to spend £30/40 million to get to the CL, look what's happened to Citeh! all that money spent and where did it get them? some of the finest players on the planet, result = failure, so if we buy a couple of gems and play as a team we can do it, so have a little faith, we will always be a big club, we may not be a "player " at the moment but we shall return!!

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  33. It's outrageous of Watzke to belittle clubs like Liverpool or Arsenal ...

    There is only one club in germany to stand up to the world elite of clubs and that's Bayern Munich.

    I hate those fucking germans !!

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  34. Schmelzer is a full back version of Dirk Kuyt ...

    Endless stamina, tireless worker, but no skill whatsoever.

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  35. lol well this bundle of fun will look forward to next season and the one after pity our seasons over by xmas but who cares you carry on believeing and i will carry on seeing it as it is ps merry xmas i take it you still believe in santa

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  36. True fans support the team no matter what. Tool academy on e4 that should suit your standards of comments

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  37. Hahaha i'ts a jooke!!!

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  38. Dortmund are challenging for honours in a respected league NOW. Why would this player leave to come to us? Because we were great before he was out of nappies. We have to hope Shelvey, Henderson and Carroll develop along with Sterling over next 24 months. I'm optomistic though.

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  39. Thats far from true Sahins absence proves they aren't all what they are cracked up to be and how many CL titles do Dortmund have?

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  40. So you dont count Liverpools 5 times European champion then only what suits you hehehehe.

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  41. 1 FC BarcelonaFC
    2 FC Bayern MüncheFC
    3 Manchester United FC
    4 Real Madrid CF
    5 Chelsea FC
    .
    .
    .
    .

    18 *******************Liverpool FC
    19 Manchester City FC
    .
    .
    .
    42******************** Borussia Dortmund

    THESE ARE THE CURRENT CLUB RANKINGS ON UEFA .

    with due respect to all your success in recent time and liverpool in a transition period...not in champions league still are above dortmand on 18 position...LIVERPOOL ARE STILL IN TOP 20 CLUBS OVER EUROPE.

    I know its a emotional subject, and any fan of any club wont hold back, but when you call yourself a big club it involves busyness, money games , support, fan base, history,club culture, stadium, players, world wide appeal , sponsorships, advertisement all the things and yup last but not the least trophies. sure liverpool are not in the form in which you r playing . still it takes a lot to name your self a big club....and also maintaining that status..over the years there are team that in a phase of time succeed and are playing very good but that doesn't mean they became big.
    its not abt taking a shot at each other but you have to accept what is made that liverpool would be a step down. that's a joke . no harm in presenting your self as best sure u do. but u cant call other clubs as step down...sply when ur talking abt LIVERPOOL.
    just give you an short example of what a world wide appeal this clubs have ,, i from india..in asia ..over the years though football is on the up here the only clubs that r well known are barca,manu,real madrid, liverpool, arsenal n to some extent milan ...im talking abt how far these clubs have reached . and again no dis respect over the years playing football on here i have not seen a single guy buy or wear a dortmand jersey .
    dortmand may in future become one of the greats no doubt , but it is n insult from ur guy what ever his name is.

    liverpool are among the elites of europe and in top 20 atlest for now, an in no matter what any xyz can not call it a step down..irrespective of any player , coach, staff, groundsman, watchman, cleaner any one wants to come here from over there or not.

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  42. thats what sums up ur thoughts....BIG SIGNINGS . thats it u just want big signings .
    and coz we fail to do, u sum up it as a failure of club n everything, ITS NOT COZ WE ARE NOT ATTRACTIVE ENOUGH but cant afford. CITY,MADRID CHELSEA, OFFER 3 TIMES MORE MONEY THAN US .
    just look at the players these clubs hold on bench , im talking abt players who are not in their season plans and just are wasted still they will continue to sign on.
    i think FSG r on right track, had not it been kk's british revolution theory ,we would have been on a different path...and im not asking to imagine u a dreamland situation, with the same team, same branden rodgers (he is the right man).. had we had any good forward in that penalty box to justify the handwork and improvement of the team , we would have ben in 3-4 spot right now....not dreaming ,just asking a good forward from 110miln fsg gave to kk.
    anyways what is done is done , but that doesn't mean we are on backward path. though its going to be a slow process but we r doing good..if not the best.

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  43. believe me i support the club no matter what i only say what i see because this is a lfc site i would never let non lfc fans slag off the club ,i would swear blind that were the best team in the world ,but on this site i don,t think i need to show blind faith ,the club is at a major crossroads and i feel fsg are not the ones to take us forward,iam not asking for 100s of millions just enought to compete and imo fsg will not compete

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  44. Liverpool have a much better youth team than man city or utd......maybe that's why he should join Liverpool

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  45. Couldn't have said it better mate!!!!

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  46. At present, dortmund ist a much stronger club than liverpool. As long Liverpool will not find any stupid investors with pockets like chelsea or city this will not change.


    One day Goetze will leave dortmund,but he will be able to select his team as most teams would love to sign player like. He is already the best player.

    He can move to barca, real, manu, city, bayern or chelsea, so why should he move to liverpool.

    He has the same options than young steven gerrard had 5 or 10 years before....

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  47. Liverpool has a great pedigree and subsequent renown, however, over time that will tend to wain without continued success which currently seems distant. For this reason (football players have relatively short careers) a player like Gotze would perhaps prefer more recently successful and promising clubs that are established in equally large leagues. Not to mention he is home bred in Dortmund making the motive to switch a little tougher.

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