Hans-Joachim Watzke: Marco Rose has our complete backing

Hans-Joachim Watzke has said that Marco Rose retains the complete support of the Borussia Dortmund bosses despite an underwhelming run of results in recent weeks.

Marco Rose came under a bit of criticism on Saturday evening following Borussia Dortmund’s 3-2 defeat to Hertha BSC. The defeat left the Black and Yellows nine points behind Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga standings heading into the winter break. But Hans-Joachim Watzke has given his backing to the 45 year old.

The Borussia Dortmund CEO appeared as a guest on BILD Live on Sunday, where he said that he has complete confidence in Marco Rose.

"“Marco Rose is doing a good job,” Watzke said. “We have to give him the time, the first half of the year wasn’t so bad. He has our complete backing and complete confidence.”"

While the first half of the season was far from ideal for Borussia Dortmund, it is worth noting that they had to deal with a mountain of injury problems. Marco Rose was hardly ever able to pick his best starting XI. And the injury situation no doubt played a big role in the team’s inconsistent performances over the course of the hinrunde.

Watzke also had his say on Borussia Dortmund’s first half of the season. And after the club’s disappointing elimination from the UEFA Champions League, Watzke is aiming to win the UEFA Europa League this season. “The Bundesliga is okay, the Champions League is not okay, we didn’t perform well. In the cup, we are on course. Now let’s try and challenge for the Europa League.”

Borussia Dortmund will take on Scottish champions Rangers in the knockout round playoffs of the Europa League in February. But for now, the team’s aim will be to recharge their batteries and make a strong start when the Bundesliga gets back underway in three weeks’ time. BVB will take on Eintracht Frankfurt in their first game of 2022.