A long-time top performer could leave Munich. t-online columnist Stefan Effenberg explains why that would be a mistake – and raves about another Bayern star.
FC Bayern must be alarmed: Leon Goretzka is apparently thinking about leaving Munich. Even a change now during the winter break doesn’t seem out of the question. But I say: Bayern should definitely not give him away now. The Munich squad is already comparatively small, with several players currently missing due to injury, so they can’t really afford to give up someone like Goretzka.
A farewell to Munich would be a significant loss for Bayern – in terms of sport, but also character. Because Goretzka is someone who never fails, never complains, is always ready for action and puts himself entirely at the service of the team. You don’t just need this type of player in the crucial phase of the season.
Of course, I can also completely understand that Goretzka, now 30 years old, is looking for a new challenge to get to know a new culture and a new language. In addition: The World Cup is only a few months away, Goretzka wants to recommend himself to national coach Nagelsmann, who ultimately did not nominate him for the 2024 European Championship.
And: Goretzka would definitely like to play as a top performer for a team at club level for another four or five years, not just sporadically, but regularly – that will probably not be guaranteed for him in Munich, despite all the appreciation he has. Whatever club he moves to, Leon Goretzka will be an absolute asset.
The new Champions League mode introduced last season is also an absolute win. Because what kind of last matchday of the league phase was on Wednesday? Lots of goals, even more spectacle, memorable scenes like at Benfica against Real, when the Portuguese made it into the playoffs thanks to a goal from their own goalkeeper in stoppage time. I’ll say it clearly: I celebrate this new format. There’s pure tension right up to the last second – we’ve now got the proof again. In the days of the well-known group phase, this was very rare and there was a lot of tactics on the last day of the match. Now even the last doubters should have finally been convinced that the new format is clearly the better one.
By the way, I have to clearly disagree with Mats Hummels and Christoph Kramer at this point. Both had criticized the Champions League participants from the Premier League last week and denied the English clubs’ dominance in the “premier league”. Now we’re a week further and not a single one of the six teams is out after the league phase. On the contrary: Only Newcastle United has to go into the playoffs, Liverpool FC, Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham and Chelsea FC are already in the round of 16. No other league can keep up, not even the Bundesliga. Even if the clubs from England may not always inspire enthusiasm in terms of play, the Premier League is the measure of all things at the highest European level.
