BERLIN, Feb. 6-- Borussia Dortmund's CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has announced the Blacks and Yellows won't tolerate any footballer going on strike in the future. "I told the entire team: The next one trying to do something similar will have a serious problem and fail miserably," the 58-year-old told German media. "The next one who is trying to put us under pressure by going on strike or refuses to show his best performance will find himself sitting in the spectators stands until the end of the season," Watzke commented. Watzke stressed that the 2017 German Champion had learned its lesson after Ousmane Dembele (FC Barcelona/105 million euro) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (FC Arsenal/63,75) blackmailed the side to allow them to leave despite a valid contract. While Dembele skipped training and left Germany hiding in France, waiting for Dortmund to cave in, Aubameyang was late for practice and deliberately missed essential team meetings. Watzke said he addressed the topic "so everybody is aware of our future policy. It is an official statement now, and we can be measured in the light on that." Dortmund's CEO said the case of Dembele has had "catastrophic effects on the team from a moral and ethical point of view." That might be one of the reasons for the team's lack of "spirit" this season, Watzke emphasized. "The team lack's the spirit the team of 2011 and 2017 had which made them win titles," he commented. The Dortmund official announced the club would investigate its squad and the end of the season and consider a change of players. "If necessary, we won't fear to carry out a fundamental change." |