Leon Goretzka doesn’t want to be a stopgap at FC Bayern. Because the record champions are already on defensive alert again, it could soon become so again.
Julian Buhl reports from the Allianz Arena
The interview that Leon Goretzka gave in the catacombs of the Allianz Arena had just reached a critical point and the increasing tension was palpable. The national player, who was in the starting line-up for the first time this calendar year in FC Bayern’s 1-0 win in the catch-up game against Union Berlin, was asked about his previous substitute role.
The 28-year-old was asked how it came to him that head coach Thomas Tuchel justified his nomination for the starting line-up at Sky broadcaster by saying that his competitor Raphaël Guerreiro was needed as a left-back and that a place had become free for Goretzka.
Goretzka: “I don’t feel like a stopgap”
“To be honest, I don’t feel like a stopgap,” Goretzka replied succinctly, “I can’t say anything more about it.” After that there was silence, an uncomfortable moment of silence. An employee from the club’s own broadcaster FC Bayern TV finally freed Goretzka from this by quickly directing the topic to his 200th competitive game, which he had just played.
“Oh, look,” said Goretzka with a grin, causing laughter in the group. “I actually didn’t know that, a proud number,” he said on his anniversary, “hopefully there will be a few more.”
After his two joker appearances, the “Bild” newspaper, among others, publicly questioned whether there would be too many more and concrete farewell thoughts towards the Premier League were put forward.
“I don’t know where that comes from either. But I’ve already experienced a lot in the summer,” said Goretzka, who was not Tuchel’s first choice at the start of the season and was therefore considered a sales candidate, now on Sky. And made it clear: “That’s out of the question for me, I’m not even concerned with it.”
Leon, the professional
The playing crisis that FC Bayern has been in since the turn of the year concerns him even more. “We have to work a lot hard at the moment,” he said after the arduous 1-0 win against Union, which followed Sunday’s surprising 1-0 defeat against Bremen.
Bayern found it extremely difficult against the two opponents who defended extremely compactly. This certainly didn’t go unnoticed by FC Augsburg, where the Munich team will be guests on Saturday. “It could be a similar game,” said Goretzka.
It is still unclear whether he will remain in the starting line-up. How does he deal with it? “I’m just trying to be the best player I can be and help the team,” said Goretzka matter-of-factly. “When you’re allowed to do that from the start is not in my power. The coach decides the rest.” Leon, the professional.
Goretzka no longer wants to be a central defender
In the first half of the season he had already accepted the retraining to become a central defender due to the major injury problems in the squad without complaint and really enjoyed this new role.
However, he doesn’t necessarily want a repetition. Goretzka continues to see his strengths in central midfield. “We’ve now bought a defender specifically. So I’m in very good spirits,” he said. This meant Eric Dier, who came into the game during the break for the injured Dayot Upamecano.
Defense alert again for Bayern
“I liked him, he communicated, he was very self-confident, very rigorous in the duels – just as you would hope,” said Goretzka when asked by t-online: “That was a very successful debut. It’s not always easy to get into a game like this, especially as a central defender.”