Uli Hoeness dismisses Leverkusen’s threat to Bayern Munich’s reign

The Bavarian club’s honorary president feels Die Werkself must apply a sustained period of pressure on Bayern for the club to get worried.

Bayern Munich’s honorary president Uli Hoeness feels Bayer Leverkusen must challenge for several years if they are to truly threaten the Bavarians’ reign. 

Speaking to Kicker, the 73-year-old recalled the last time they faced such a prospect and how Die Rekordmeister replied. 

“We could have had that feeling [last season], but for that to happen a club would have to put us under pressure for three, four or five years. That didn’t happen.

“If Leverkusen were to win the title two or three times in a row, then we would have to think,” Hoeness explained.

Over the last few decades, the likes of Borussia Monchengladbach, Hamburger SV and most recently Jurgen Klopp’s Dortmund enjoyed dominant periods against Bayern. 

“We were weak back then,” said Hoeness, reflecting on BVB’s back-to-back titles in 2010-11 and 2011-12. 

“You can always hope that your opponent will get weaker, or you can get better yourself. We chose the latter,” he concluded. 

Perhaps a carefully timed message from the honorary president as Bayern prepare for their Champions League last-16 tie with Leverkusen this Wednesday.