Watzke spoke in a program interview about Klopp coaching the German national team and the 2017 attack on the Borussia Dortmund team bus.

Watzke on Germany coach Klopp

Sky Sport Germany: How much convincing did it take to get Klopp on board?

Watzke said: "There was only one idea at the time, and that was to get Jürgen. But to do that, we had to do some convincing work first, and we also had to convince RB Leipzig to release him."

Sky Sport Germany: Was the process difficult, or was it as straightforward as everyone thought in the end?

Watzke said: "No, no, no, it was really difficult, because Red Bull was very happy with him. It wasn't just Mintzlaff there; he certainly cares a lot about the development of German football. But looking at the shareholder structure, one is Austrian and the other is Thai, and I don't think they're thinking all day about what good they can do for German football. The negotiations got better every day, but the initial contacts were also difficult, and there were even some heated words."

Sky Sport Germany: Did you ever think it wouldn't work out during that time?

Watzke said: "No, not really. But I've also had experiences in the past where I didn't expect to fail, but it ended up going wrong, so there are also risks hidden in the details."

Sky Sport Germany: What do you think of Klopp's first few weeks as Germany coach?

Watzke said: "It's like pre-season training—everyone's in a good mood. Ultimately, they still have to play, and they start with four matches, which is quite intense. The first match against the Netherlands will be difficult, but I'm really looking forward to it."

Watzke on the 2017 attack on the Borussia Dortmund team bus and Tuchel's claim that Watzke insisted on playing the Champions League match that night

Sky Sport Germany: For you personally, was this the biggest human disappointment?

Watzke said: "It was a big disappointment, yes."

Sky Sport Germany: Tuchel described it that way. The outside world presented a picture that was completely untrue. How long did you personally struggle with this?

Watzke said: "Of course, that was a big problem, because the internal process was not kept internal and it was distorted when it got out. But I found that no matter what I or others said, there were always some people who just wanted things to be that way. Because it fits a narrative: a soulless football executive ordering players what to do. That fits exactly the picture they want. But the players were always very decent. I wasn't even there when the players voted. I only spoke to them for a few minutes, explaining that whatever decision they made, we would understand. On one hand, I could completely understand that they couldn't play in that state that night; but on the other hand, I also didn't want to be the one to deprive them of the chance to reach the Champions League semi-finals. None of us wanted that."

Sky Sport Germany: Did that period change you personally?

Watzke said: "Yes, I think somewhat, because that was the first time I also became a bit suspicious internally. I hadn't felt that way before. Before 2015, when Jürgen was still here, Borussia Dortmund was a very united group. But it must also be said that it was an extreme situation. And I wasn't on the bus at the time, which is also important."

Sky Sport Germany: What impressed me was that you forgave Tuchel. Did that require you to overcome a lot?

Watzke said: "We certainly had serious disagreements at the time, but life goes on. Now when we meet, we talk rationally. When they asked me in England what I thought of Tuchel, I just told them: 'You can safely sign him; he will be one of the best coaches.' Tuchel was under immense pressure at the time, and anyone who knows his personality knows that he put that pressure on himself. As I said, if you were sitting on that bus at the time, the feeling would be completely different, and that must be respected. Things weren't handled ideally, but you can't carry it for ten years. It's all fine now."

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