Freiburg (AP) – With clenched fists, Leon Goretzka ran towards the guest fan curve. The FC Bayern professional had had to wait a long time for this moment. He was absent from Munich for almost four months due to problems with the patellar tendon, most recently with hip pain.
In the 4: 1 (0: 0) of the Bundesliga leaders at SC Freiburg, the national player shone on Saturday as a goal scorer and driver until he was substituted. “A load fell off. It was a difficult rehabilitation because nobody knew how long it would take,” said Goretzka on the Sky TV channel. “The fact that it worked straight away with a goal and we won – that’s what you wish for.”
His coach Julian Nagelsmann was also happy with the comeback of the 27-year-old midfielder. “We noticed in training that he’s good for us. He trains with absolute greed and is very valuable to us,” said the coach.
That’s why Nagelsmann wants to carefully introduce his protégé. In the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League on Wednesday at FC Villarreal (9 p.m. / DAZN), Goretzka could get a breather again. “The basic idea is not to chase him onto the field every three days. But I’m glad that we have an additional alternative with him,” said Nagelsmann.