Jerome Boateng discusses Dortmund, the national team and his future

After the recent friendly Nations League 2-2 draw with the Netherlands, Bayern Munich’s defensive rock Jerome Boateng covered a range of topics in an interview with Sport Bild on Wednesday.

Speaking about Dortmund’s resurgence and the potentiality that Bayern’s dominance may come to an end, Boateng was quick to dismiss any concerns, reiterating that “a changing of guard” hasn’t come anywhere close to happening.

For a changing of the guard, BVB first has to win the championship by a wide margin for six or seven years consecutively. Or win games against us with scores of 4-1 or 5-1. They haven’t done that.

The centre-back showered praise on Dortmund, but quickly downplayed their lead in the table as something that could change very quickly.

That’s why there’s no changing of the guard in Germany. It’s a phase in which Dortmund is deservedly out in front. We brought this down on ourselves, because we didn’t win our home games, among other things. But the tide can quickly turn, too.

Talking about the national team, competition for places and the constant need to perform, Boateng was confident that he has not yet been supplanted by the youth:

You also have to play consistently. As a young player, you can’t think after one or two good matches, “Now I have this position permanently.” The performances have to be consistent. That’s why I’ve been playing on the national team and at Bayern for years: I was consistent and had few phases in my career when things didn’t go so well.

Finally, on his future and the topic of transfers, Boateng rejected any speculation about a transfer elsewhere right now, but refused to rule out an eventual move.

[The summer window]’s still way too far away. I want to help us play a successful season. In football, you theoretically never can rule anything out.

Here’s to hoping for great performances from him in the latter stages of the season.