EXCLUSIVE: Otto Addo Makes Bold Borussia Dortmund Prediction, Hopes 'Outstanding' Guirassy Stays

SUMMARY

Former Dortmund star Otto Addo is optimistic about the club’s future after a challenging 2024-25 season, praising their late surge to Champions League qualification. He urges star striker Guirassy, who scored 40 goals last season, to stay, believing the team has the quality to improve and succeed next year.

Former Borussia Dortmund star and ex-assistant manager Otto Addo has expressed confidence in the club’s future, believing the team has what it takes to bounce back after a difficult season.

The Black and Yellow ended the 2024–25 season on a disappointing note, with their only highlight being a fourth-place Bundesliga finish that secured Champions League qualification. 

Earlier in the campaign, they were knocked out in the second round of the DFB-Pokal and exited the Champions League at the quarter-final stage after losing 5-3 on aggregate to Spanish giants Barcelona.

In an exclusive interview with SportsBoom, Ghana national team head coach Otto Addo shared his thoughts on the performance of his former club, reflecting on their rollercoaster campaign.

"It was a lot of ups and downs, but I'm happy that at the end, they qualified for the Champions League and I am really happy for the team," said the 50-year-old.

"They did really extremely well in the last games. I think they won six or seven games in a row to get that fourth spot in the Champions League.

"I also visited them some weeks ago, I think, and they were really excited about the last match and I'm happy for them that they did it."

Dortmund had remained outside the Bundesliga’s top four since matchday three, but a 3–0 home win over Holstein Kiel on the final day, coupled with Freiburg’s 3–1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt, secured fourth place for Niko Kovac’s side and a return to the Champions League in 2025–26.

WHY DORTMUND TRAIL BAYERN AND LEVERKUSEN

During his six years as a player at Dortmund from 1999 to 2005, Addo helped the team win the Bundesliga in the 2001-02 season. That same year, he was also part of the squad that finished as runners-up in the Champions League.

The club has gone 13 years without a German topflight title, last winning it in the 2011-2012 season. In fact, their most recent trophy came in the 2020-2021 season, when they defeated RB Leipzig to claim the DFB-Pokal.

When asked why his former team has recently trailed behind clubs like Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen, he responded: "I'm not there anymore. It's difficult to come and speak from outside. 

"It's very difficult. You don't know what internal problems they have. I know that they have quality to get higher. But, yeah, this is football sometimes.

"Sometimes things go bad. I've experienced this myself and now is a better time, so I'm really looking forward for the next season. I think they will do much better. They have the quality and they will come up."

He also praised Bayern Munich, the current league champions, and spoke highly of their Belgian manager Vincent Kompany’s immediate impact.

"And Bayern Munich, I'm not a Bayern Munich fan, not at all, but I'm very, very happy [for them]," Addo continued.

"This is the first time a black coach won the league in Germany. Even a black coach was appointed in the first division in Germany. So, I'm very, very happy for him to win the league."

ADDO ADVOCATES FOR GUIRASSY STAY

Addo has also called on striker Serhou Guirassy to remain with the club as they prepare for the upcoming season. 

Last season, the Guinea international netted 40 goals across all competitions—21 in the Bundesliga and 13 in the UEFA Champions League—finishing as joint top scorer and securing his place among Borussia Dortmund’s all-time single-season scoring leaders.

Thanks to his outstanding performances, Guirassy has drawn attention from top European clubs. While the Germans have set a €70 million release clause in his contract, Addo insists he remains a key player if the team is to achieve something remarkable next season.

He added: "Absolutely outstanding. He is really a massive asset for Borussia Dortmund. I hope that he will stay. 

"Truly, through his performance, he has got a lot of interest now. But he's absolutely a top striker and I hope that he will stay at Borussia Dortmund and lead them to a Champions League tie next year."