Ready to Conquer Club-WM: Watzke on Club-WM: European Teams Glowing Hot Like French Fries
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European clubs on the brink of the World Club Cup are sizzling hot, akin to French fries cookin' in oil. - European teams "red-hot" according to Watzke before the World Cup
The upcoming format change in the Club-WM has the two German representatives brimming with excitement. "Sportingly, it's a real challenge - and you can win the first global tournament across all continents. That would be historic," said Bayern's CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen in a candid chat with Borussia Dortmund's CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke in a special supplement (11th June) of the Munich-based media group Münchner Merkur/tz.
"Every football enthusiast still knows that Uruguay won the first World Cup in 1930. It will be the same with the first winner of the Club-WM in the future," Watzke emphasized, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. Thirty-two teams are competing in the WM in the USA, commencing this weekend and concluding in mid-July. Bayern and BVB are the lone Bundesliga teams participating.
Sizzling Rewards, Scorching Costs
European clubs are "hot as French fries", said Watzke, his words imbued with a sense of urgency. "No one will let up for a second," he continued, while Dreesen underscored the tournament's economic appeal.
The Club-WM boasts a prize pool of one billion US dollars, roughly equivalent to 876 million euros. The winner of the final on 13th July in East Rutherford could potentially amass a whopping 125 million US dollars (around 110 million euros) in prize money.
"The amount is astronomical, but you have to divide it by four," explained Watzke, the calculation illustrating the competitive nature of the tournament. "After all, the Champions League takes place every year - and the Club-WM only every four years," he added. The addition of more mandatory games equates to increased performance bonuses for the players and exorbitant travel expenses. The 63 matches of the Club-WM will be played across twelve stadiums.
Favorite or Fobasse?
The two football executives refrained from making a clear title prediction. "It's like in the Champions League: We want to get through the group phase and then from the round of 16 into the quarter-finals, and from the quarter-finals into the semi-finals. And so on. But we must not think that only the European teams can threaten us," said Watzke, cautioning against underestimating the competition.
"Our aim is always to win titles. But first, we have to get through the group and reach the knockout phase," explained Dreesen, highlighting the importance of a solid foundation. However, he expects at least one European team in the final, "maybe two".
Watzke views Paris Saint-Germain, fresh off their Champions League victory, as the frontrunner for the title. "A top team that is finally ready to run to the last drop of blood. For me, the one I trust the most," he confidently declared.
While neither Watzke nor Dreesen have made public predictions for the favorites, sports analysts and data models suggest that Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid are the top contenders for the trophy, with PSG and Manchester City leading the pack. The competition is fierce, the stakes are high, and the sizzle is on. Let the games begin!
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Enrichment Data:There are no available public statements from Hans-Joachim Watzke (Borussia Dortmund CEO) or Jan-Christian Dreesen (Bayern Munich CEO) directly outlining their predictions for the favorites at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the provided sources. However, analysis from sports media and data models can provide insight into the generally accepted favorites and their rationale. According to reputable sports outlets and data-driven predictions, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is considered a strong favorite, having recently won the UEFA Champions League and demonstrating excellent form. They feature a deep, experienced squad and are highlighted for their attacking prowess and recent confidence boost from European success. Manchester City is recognized as another top contender, though they are coming off a season without silverware under Guardiola. Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are also seen as leading contenders, with Real Madrid in particular aiming to leverage new signings and their historic pedigree to reclaim dominance. Other European heavyweights such as Inter Milan, Chelsea, and Borussia Dortmund (with Hans-Joachim Watzke as CEO) are in the mix but not considered favorites over PSG or Manchester City.
- Hans-Joachim Watzke, CEO of Borussia Dortmund, expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming change in the Club-WM format, comparing the climate among European teams to "French fries, hot as they are."
- The Club-WM offers a prize pool of one billion US dollars, with the winning team potentially receiving up to 110 million euros. This substantial amount of money has both executives acknowledging the increased performance bonuses for players and the exorbitant travel expenses necessitated by the tournament's worldwide scope.
- Sports analysts and data models have identified Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid as the top contenders for the Club-WM trophy in 2025. Although neither Watzke nor Dreesen have made a public prediction for the favorites, Watzke indicated his confidence in the Paris Saint-Germain team, describing them as "a top team that is finally ready to run to the last drop of blood."
