Bayern’s trusty midfielder Leon Goretzka has reached a crossroads. Although he looked almost untouchable for the Bavarians, the turmoilous year has seen the 28-year-old’s future cast in doubt.German press claims that Goretzka’s poor showings since the arrival of head coach Thomas Tuchel, combined with the addition of Raphael Guerreiro from Borussia Dortmund, could spell out the end of his career in Munich. Or at least – he won’t be considered a key player for the club.The nerves have been hampering Leon for months now. He was usually the one who would stop and talk to the press after the games, even if his team had suffered a defeat. But even that has changed under Tuchel. The last-day title win couldn’t mask poor performances and poor team cohesion. ##EDITORS_CHOICE##Goretzka is not the first nor the last footballer to suffer a dip in form. But at such a famous club, every crisis is magnified under the pressure of expectations. It’s Tuchel’s job to get the best out of the experienced midfield warrior. Will Bayern see the robust box-to-box enforcer with the talent to make the difference in the final third again? Or the Goretzka, who had more defensive tasks to fulfil and seemed flat in the final third?The player does not currently know what will be required of him in the coming season. Finally, Bayern are still looking for a central midfielder who, unlike Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich, primarily performs defensive tasks and keeps his back free. And with Guerreiro, a versatile technician has already been added, who can also be used in central midfield – and has already been used by Tuchel.##NAJAVA_MECA_7343844##So will Goretzka remain an active half of the long-term partnership with Kimmich next season? Or is he threatened – as at the end of the past season – with a place on the substitutes’ bench? He’s aware of his poor showings, as he indicated in an interview with Sport1.”Of course, there were bad performances – more than you’re used to from me. You have to be self-critical about it, and I do that. One of my great strengths is implementing what the coach expects of me. I was measured against things previously asked of me when I was used in a more attacking role – with different tactical constraints. It isn’t easy to look ahead to next season. It depends on what is expected of me. And then I want to do what the coach asks of me again. “🏓 pic.twitter.com/dHJGvWvnuV— goretzka comfort (@leongcomfort) June 27, 2023 Goretzka has “big plans” at Bayern and is not considering leaving Germany’s most successful club. In order for these big plans to work out, however, he would have to find his old form again. Otherwise, the bench threatens. Or a change of scenery.
