National coach Hansi Flick caused a stir with his decision not to invite Leon Goretzka from FC Bayern to the upcoming international matches against Japan and France. Unsurprisingly, the former successful Munich coach also had to listen to criticism from the record champions. Apparently, Flick wanted to anticipate that with a conversation at FC Bayern.
Before Leon Goretzka was eliminated, Hansi Flick was in contact with his club coach Thomas Tuchel from FC Bayern, reports “Sport Bild”. The national coach had traveled to Munich specifically for this.
Under Tuchel, Goretzka had recently secured the starting eleven after a weak second half of the season in 2022/23 and a mixed preparation. Meanwhile, Flick justified Goretzka’s non-consideration by saying that the 28-year-old didn’t have enough ideas when he was in possession of the ball.
In a first reaction, the Bayern star was “extremely disappointed by the surprising decision” of the national coach. Meanwhile, Tuchel took the non-nomination for the international matches as a sign: “It’s always a signal to do more when you personally have to accept a disappointment. For Leon, that can only be an incentive and to prove that in the next international match -Period must go with him and can only go over him.”
As in the Süle case: Goretzka can hope to return
Bayern Munich President Herbert Hainer had meanwhile clearly criticized the waiver of Leon Goretzka in the “double pass” on “Sport1”: “Goretzka has always been part of the national team in recent years, he also forms an extremely good duo with Kimmich. That was excellent In the first two Bundesliga games, in the first three competitive games, he was also in the starting XI. That’s why I don’t understand Hansi Flick’s decision, I have to say that very clearly.”
Meanwhile, Hansi Flick made it clear that Leon Goretzka’s European Championship train is far from gone.
Similar to BVB defender Niklas Süle, who is now back to the DFB tribe after being booted out in June, or to Timo Werner from RB Leipzig, who is now also not included, a return is always possible.