Former assistant Terzic coached Dortmund between December 2020 and May 2021, winning the German Cup and very popular among fans. He was made sports director as Marco Rose took the helm, but Dortmund have now parted ways with Rose and put Terzic back in charge.

“He is someone who appeals to the people in the Ruhr-area and he knows Borussia Dortmund’s soul. We feel good with him now. But he still has to win games,” Watzke told Sky TV on Sunday.

Watzke said that patience is needed as Dortmund will have a new-look team after the departure of the likes of Erling Haaland and Axel Witsel, and the arrival of others including Germany players Niklas Süle, Nico Schlotterbeck and Karim Adeyemi.

“We know very well that we are in the process of changing many things, to newly configure a few things within the team,” Watzke said.

“The minimum goal is qualifying for the Champions League [for which fourth place in the league is required]. But we must give such a team some time. It takes time when six or seven new players arrive,” Watzke said.

Watzke also named the decision correct to part ways with Rose after just one year in which Dortmund were never able to seriously challenge Bayern Munich for the Bundesliga title in an inconsistent season, and went out early in the German Cup and in Europe.

“It had nothing to do with patience. Football is a sport based on results. Marco had this time, he had a year. Something was missing on both sides. And therefore we felt that it may be good if we go separate ways,” Watzke said.

“It was very difficult for all of us. Marco is a great coach, a great person. But it is still our duty to look ahead now.”