Champions League
Goretzka’s “DNA” is in demand: Bayern decimated to Pilsen
Bayern’s Leon Goretzka should shine as a driver against Pilsen, as he did against BVB. photo
© Peter Kneffel/German Press Agency GmbH/dpa
The Champions League is currently Bavaria’s “calm zone”. The round of 16 ticket is already waving in Pilsen. Four professionals around Captain Neuer are out. A finally fit Munich is recommended as a foreman.
Leon Goretzka used the several-hour bus ride of the badly decimated Bayern squad from Munich to the beer town of Pilsen, 300 kilometers away, to “write what felt like 5,000 autograph cards”.
In the Champions League game against the points provider Viktoria Pilsen with returnee Thomas Müller, the national soccer player wants to ensure the next firmly planned victory on Wednesday (9 p.m. / DAZN) as a dynamic driver in midfield. In view of the imbalance in the Bundesliga before the top game against SC Freiburg, coach Julian Nagelsmann wants to “maintain the Champions League haven of peace”, also for “atmosphere” reasons.
In addition to the Bundesliga frustration after the annoying 2-2 in the top league game against Borussia Dortmund, Nagelsmann took significant personnel problems with him to the Czech Republic: When training was still completed in Munich, Jamal Musiala, who was infected with Corona, was also missing Captain Manuel Neuer because of a, according to the coach, ” too painful” shoulder injury. Defenders Matthijs de Ligt (muscular problems) and Alphonso Davies (bruised skull) as well as attacker Serge Gnabry (knee) are also out in the Czech Republic. Meanwhile, Sven Ulreich was preparing intensively in goal for his second appearance of the season.
Goretzka: We want to go home with twelve points
A few weeks before the World Cup in Qatar, Goretzka can finally fulfill his role as Munich foreman as he wished. After arriving in the Czech town of Bierstadt, the 27-year-old formulated a clear goal for the Pilsen trip: “We want to go home with twelve points on Thursday.”
In Dortmund he demonstrated what Goretzka can do when he is fit – ideally in front of national coach Hansi Flick. Goretzka shone as a goalscorer, driver and defensive sweeper. In short: He showed exactly those qualities that Nagelsmann particularly appreciates in him: “Leon does it exceptionally well. He’s someone who always makes a coach feel good.”
In terms of his skills, Goretzka should actually be in midfield, with FC Bayern and in Flick’s World Cup team. But it’s not, because the powerhouse keeps failing for weeks. A knee operation stopped him in the pre-season. Most recently, a corona infection slowed him down, which also cost him the international matches against Hungary and England. That’s why an equation applies that Goretzka himself recently set up: “If I’m physically fit and stable, then my performance is usually decent.”
Goretzka follows his words with deeds
He was the best man on the pitch in the last-minute win in Dortmund. After the annoying 2: 2 he spoke plainly and also touched on the tiresome Munich center forward debate. “If you’re 2-0 up, you don’t really need to score to win.” He recently formulated his claims in the competition with Marcel Sabitzer and Ryan Gravenberch for the place next to Joshua Kimmich, who is placed in midfield, offensively: “It’s in my DNA and also in that of the other guys that they want to be on the pitch. That’s it my claim, I’ve said that clearly.”
Goretzka follows up his self-confident words with action. Before his strong performance against BVB, he also impressed with two assists in the 5-0 first leg win against Pilsen. With a win in the small Doosan Arena in Pilsen, the round of 16 ticket could ideally be booked as early as Wednesday. In addition to Goretzka, Müller should also help, who is available again after his third corona infection. “This corona wave is already grueling,” groaned Goretzka, who recently tested positive himself, who is hoping for the virus: “I’m now prepared for autumn and winter. Nothing should burn for me anymore.”
That would be helpful to recommend yourself in the Bayern jersey for Flick’s World Cup team. After all, Goretzka wants to play a much more important role in his second World Cup tournament than in 2018: in Russia he only played in the last group game against South Korea. It was the game that sealed the historic preliminary round defeat of the DFB team.
The expected lineups
Viktoria Pilsen – FC Bayern Munich (Wednesday, 9 p.m., DAZN)
Viktoria Pilsen: Stanek – Havel, Pernica, Hejda, Jemelka – Kopic, Kalvach, Bucha, Vlkanova – Mosquera, Chory
FC Bayern Munich: Ulreich – Mazraoui, Pavard, Upamecano, Stanisic – Kimmich, Goretzka – Coman, Sané, Mané – Müller
Referee: Frankowski (Poland)