INTERVIEW: Dortmund hero Owomoyela anticipates "intense" renewed Revierderby rivalry with Schalke 04

Patrick Owomoyela, the Borussia Dortmund legend, anticipates the impending Revierderby showdown against Schalke 04. He believes the significance of the match may take time to restore to its former glory, chiefly due to Schalke's three-year hiatus from the Bundesliga and their diminishing supremacy. Owomoyela expressed this sentiment during a Munich media round table event hosted by Bulinews.com.

He elaborated, "It is [a big game], but it hasn't been there for so long now that people [from Dortmund and Schalke] were urging for it. However, it's still something that's far away." Even when Schalke was still in the Bundesliga, Owomoyela pointed out that it remained important for the fans, but its impact on the season's outcome was not as substantial when compared to clashes against Bayern Munich.

Speaking on his playing days, Owomoyela recounted, "In my time, it was [very important]. Firstly, we were both competing for the championship, so the derby was the biggest game. You could lose all the games but if you won those two [against Schalke] it was a perfect season [for fans]." However, he noted that this has evolved, with Bayern now emerging as the paramount rival.

Fans' enthusiasm for the Revierderby's return is evident, with Owomoyela expressing his excitement for the upcoming encounter, scheduled for early December.

When queried about his preference for Schalke to regain their former stature and reclaim their place in European football, Owomoyela welcomed the notion. He contended that this would inject extra zest into the fierce rivalry, transforming it into a critical game for the season's outcomes as well. He concluded, "It will be a fantastic game, it will be intense and a hard-fought fight, I’m sure. But of course [Schalke becoming more successful] would add a special ingredient to this derby for sure."