Bundesliga
Demanded as a Kimmich replacement: “Leon knows what he has to do”
Munich’s Leon Goretzka has a very special game ahead of him. photo
© Tom Weller/German Press Agency GmbH/dpa
This game is still a very special one for Leon Goretzka: It’s against his youth club VfL Bochum. And against that, the Bayern star is particularly in focus.
Leon Goretzka linked the challenge to FC Bayern with praise for VfL Bochum. “We don’t have a huge cushion in the Bundesliga anymore, so we should do our homework first,” said the Bochum native. “Of course I also know how difficult it can be against VfL.”
In the home game against his youth club, following the suspension of Joshua Kimmich after his yellow-red card against VfL Wolfsburg, he is particularly in focus. “Leon will play for Josh, as was the case after the dismissal in Wolfsburg. Leon will occupy the six,” said coach Julian Nagelsmann before the home game on Saturday (3:30 p.m. / Sky). “Leon has played that a few times. He has a slightly different physicality, especially in the air. Leon knows what he has to do.” You have to be prepared for the many high balls from VfL keeper Manuel Riemann.
Goretzka also wants to position himself for the round of 16 first leg in the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday. Due to thigh problems, he missed the game against Frankfurt (1-1) at the end of January. He came back as a substitute in the 4-0 win over Mainz in the cup, played through in the 4-2 win against Wolfsburg and even wore the captain’s armband in the end. “It’s a nice fringe phenomenon to have such a bandage on your arm at Bayern Munich. It was fun,” said Goretzka. But he always tries to take responsibility even without a bandage. FC Bayern have always had several captains anyway.
Nagelsmann described the break against Frankfurt as “a few construction sites since his time in Bochum”. When Goretzka was asked about frequent failures after the 4-2 win in Wolfsburg, he didn’t really like it. “I honestly don’t know what to say. I’ve only missed one game since matchday four,” said the international, who had a knee operation slowing him down before the season. “But when you’re such a branded child, the discussion quickly becomes big. At the end of the day, I’m very happy with my playing times this year.”