Dortmund CEO backs Peter Bosz despite mounting pressure

Speaking at the club's annual general meeting on Sunday, Watzke expressed the belief that the man he appointed just a few months ago can halt the dreadful run that has seen Dortmund win just once in their last 12 games against top flight opposition.

"I have the clear expectation Peter that this week you'll pull out all the stops and leave no stone unturned," Watzke said. "We have to get back on track quickly." 

Saturday's 4-4 draw with Schalke, which came after Dortmund had raced in to a four goal lead, leaves the club in fifth, eight points behind Bayern and three away from Schalke - despite a start that saw them win five of their first six games.

Bosz has come under an increasingly intense spotlight in recent weeks, with his overly adventurous tactics and inability to turn around a poor run cited by many fans as reasons why he's not up to the job. But he has come out fighting.

"Now it's up to me to build the team back up. We need to continue to believe in ourselves, to set aside the uncertainties," he said. "I'm a fighter. I was as a player and I'm the same as a coach. I don't give up."

Watzke has a reason for backing the former Ajax boss after his relationship with previous coach Thomas Tuchel, who won the German Cup and qualified for the Champions League last season, was at least partly responsible for Tuchel's departure.

Watzke also admitted on Sunday that he regrets the way he treated chief scout Sven Minislat. The man who takes some credit for the signings of Shinji Kagawa, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ousmane Dembele and Christian Pulisic left for Arsenal in the week.

mp/ (DPA/Reuters)