Ahead of the Bundesliga showdown against BVB, Jan-Christian Dreesen is looking far ahead. The Bayern boss would even like to see Dortmund in the Champions League final.
At FC Bayern, anticipation isn’t just building for the Bundesliga showdown with Borussia Dortmund—it’s also growing for the “Klassiker.” In an interview with Sport BILD, CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen has now even raised the possibility of a rematch on the biggest European stage.
When asked if he could imagine another Champions League final between Bayern and Dortmund this season, Dreesen replied with remarkable candor: “I would absolutely love that. A Champions League final against Dortmund would be fantastic.”
For the Bayern boss, such a final would be particularly appealing for several reasons. “The idea of FC Bayern reaching the final is great. And then to face a German club as well,” said Dreesen. At the same time, he added a caveat: “Only time will tell if we can pull that off again. But first and foremost, we at FC Bayern have to focus on ourselves.”
Memories of the only German Champions League final to date remain vivid for Dreesen to this day. In 2013, Bayern and Dortmund faced off at London’s Wembley Stadium. The Munich team prevailed 2–1 and went on to complete the treble.
For Dreesen, Wembley remains unmatched
For Dreesen, that victory remains one of the greatest moments of his time at FC Bayern. When asked about his fondest memory of his time at Dortmund, he replied: “Yes, Wembley was the highlight.”
Even the dramatic 2023 league championship final—when Bayern overtook Dortmund on the last matchday with a 2-1 victory in Cologne—doesn’t measure up to the 2013 Champions League final in the eyes of the CEO.
“That day even surpasses the dramatic 2023 championship final,” Dreesen explained. The triumph at Wembley and the accompanying treble had electrified the entire club at the time. His conclusion is correspondingly clear: “That moment is unmatched.”
From the CEO’s perspective, however, the rivalry between Bayern and Dortmund is no longer nearly as intense as it was in previous years. In the interview, Dreesen emphasized that, despite their sporting rivalry, both clubs share many common interests and are key international drawcards for German soccer.
A repeat Champions League final between the two clubs would therefore apparently be the ideal scenario for Dreesen: maximum sporting rivalry on the biggest stage possible—and at the same time, a strong signal for the Bundesliga.