Dortmund boss: German Europa League participants 'weren't up to the task'
Last season's German Europa League participants weren't up to the task, says Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke.
Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke says one of the reasons for the lack of German success in Europe last season is that the teams that participated in the Europa League weren't ready for the task.
"The classic Europa League participants recent years - Leverkusen, Schalke, Gladbach - took the time off, and other clubs, who weren't up to the task, came in," Watzke told the Funke-Mediengruppe.
SC Freiburg were eliminated in the third qualifying round while neither FC Köln, Hoffenheim or Hertha advanced from the group stages.
This time around, Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt have qualified for the Europa League, and that makes Watzke more optimistic.
"With the current starters in the Champions League and the Europa League, it looks different," he said.
Last season, Borussia Dortmund stepped into the Europe League Round of 32 after finishing third in their Champions League group. The BVB took just two points in the Champions League via two draws with Cypriot side Apoel FC, and Watzke admits that wasn't good enough.
"We should especially blame ourselves for the two draws against Apoel. There is no arguments, no excuses - that was the low point," the Dortmund boss said.
Borussia Dortmund will face Monaco, Club Brugge and Atletico Madrid at the Champions League group stage this season.