Sammer wants to stay true to his line: "Competitive sport does not forgive compromises"

Matthias Sammer will also be appearing as an expert on Prime Video next season. IMAGO/Kirchner-Media

The response was huge when Matthias Sammer, in his role as a pundit for the streaming service Prime Video, sharply criticized Borussia Dortmund's performance at Bologna FC during the last Champions League season. After all, the former professional and official also serves as an external consultant to the BVB management. Although he was subsequently allowed to retain the dual role, he has since stopped covering games involving Dortmund for the streaming service. This will remain the case in the new season.

However, the 57-year-old, who recently kicked off a major debate about the quality of German football in kicker magazine, will remain true to his line. "Competitive sport is tough, competitive sport doesn't forgive compromises," he said on Friday at a digital press conference where the Prime Video team of experts introduced themselves, and with a smile recalled his father's words: "Sometimes the portrayals are exaggerated, but as my father once told me: Exaggeration is the key to clarity."

He deals with what he sees – he handled it the same way back then. "It was tough, but I didn't know that competitive sport had become soft. I won't adapt," Sammer said. "The truth will always remain the truth. Those who can't stand it shouldn't attack those who name it, but rather get to the root causes." He called his decision not to attend BVB games in the future "sensible."

Mats Hummels will take on this role alongside former pro Christoph Kramer, who, like Sammer, remained with the team. The former FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund player now has a new role on the sidelines after retiring in the summer – and wants to focus on the sport in his analysis. "I'll be critical, but within reason, because I know the players' side and how big things are sometimes made out to be," said the former world-class central defender, who, with a smile on his face, suggested he would "perhaps be a little" more reserved when it comes to his former teammates.

While all three experts gave the German teams - alongside BVB and FC Bayern, Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt are also in the starting line-up - good chances of surviving the league phase, Sammer looked a little further into the future on Friday and outlined a possible path for the Bundesliga to compete against the financially superior Premier League.

"In the 1990s, we had the same discussion with Italy. History repeats itself. The Bundesliga shouldn't capitulate, but rather find its own path," he said, suggesting: "In the medium term, the truth lies in youth development. Our credo must be to do top-notch work there and develop players for the Bundesliga." This way, not only could the league stabilize or even improve in international comparison, but the national team could also benefit.

As well as the transfers of Florian Wirtz (Liverpool) and Nick Woltemade (Newcastle) to the Premier League. "Florian Wirtz has to adapt because football is played a bit differently in England, but he will benefit from it," said Sammer, adding, referring to Woltemade, who was booed during the international match against Northern Ireland: "There was also an emotional factor involved. But I would advocate giving him time. The criticism shouldn't impress him now, but rather make him stronger. He can then be a very important factor for the national team in the future."

However, Woltemade will not be available live on Prime Video ; the streaming service will only broadcast matches with German participation during the league phase, including Bayer Leverkusen's home game against Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich's appearance in Paris, and Eintracht Frankfurt's away game against FC Barcelona.