It is not yet fully clear whether Leon Goretzka will continue at FC Bayern beyond the season. What is clear, however, is that the 29-year-old has recently been active in a completely new and, above all, rather unusual role for the Munich team. Goretzka has now revealed how he likes this position.
Leon Goretzka has recently taken on a new role at FC Bayern. In the second half against SC Freiburg (2:2) and in the important victory in the Champions League round of 16 second leg against Lazio Rome (3:0), the national player was unusually variable on the field for the Munich team.
His basic position was the classic six as a clearer in the defensive midfield, but as soon as the German record champions had possession of the ball, the 29-year-old moved one row further back into the three-man chain that was forming and acted as the left link.
The two full-backs, Raphael Guerreiro on the left and Joshua Kimmich on the right, pushed deep into midfield and stood next to Aleksandar Pavlović in the center during the attack.
In this way, coach Thomas Tuchel created significantly more width in the midfield, and the more attacking midfielders Leroy Sané and Jamal Musiala moved into the half spaces at the top. At the front, veteran Thomas Müller and striker Harry Kane took turns at the forefront.
However, when the opponent had the ball, the full-backs moved completely back, Goretzka broke away from the short-term three-man defense and defended again in midfield next to Pavlović on the six.
Asked after the game against Lazio why he was used in such an unusual way, Goretzka – quoted by “kicker” – said matter-of-factly: “We already did that in the second half against Freiburg. It worked well there. And that’s why we did it today too.”
Goretzka: FC Bayern now less “chaotic”
The national player did not let on whether the new flexible position is his favorite role or whether it doesn’t suit his taste. “I always played where I was placed and tried to do my best there,” he said simply.
The advantage of the new variant from Goretzka’s point of view: “We have a better structure with the ball, which in turn means that we are better off when we lose the ball than we were against Freiburg in the first half.”
It was “completely chaotic” against the Bundesliga club in the first half.