Leon Goretzka is pleased with his debut season at Bayern Munich
German midfielder Leon Goretzka is completely satisfied with his debut season with Bundesliga champions and DFB Pokal winners Bayern Munich.
It has not been an ideal season for Bayern Munich, as there were many ups and downs throughout the campaign. The German club eventually managed to clinch a domestic double, but they were made to work hard to win both trophies.
There were various standout performers for Bayern at different stages of the season. Robert Lewandowski, Joshua Kimmich and Thiago Alcantara were consistently good throughout the year. Apart from these three players, Leon Goretzka and Serge Gnabry shone brightly in their debut season at Bayern Munich as well.
Goretzka enjoyed a decent amount of game time under Niko Kovac despite some intense competition in the center of the park. Speaking with media recently (via Bundesliga.com), Goretzka fondly reflected on his debut season in Bavaria and suggested he feels completely settled at the club. The German midfielder is also happy with his progress with the national team.
"“It was my first season at a world-class club, and I think everything went really well.“We won two titles, and I also realised my own goals: I helped the team, I found my place in the side and I think I also made the next step with the national team, so I’m very happy with how my season went.”"
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The German international also admitted that his best position is in central midfield, but he is open to playing anywhere the coach wants him to play. Kovac used Goretzka in a left-back position for one match, but he spent most of the season in central midfield. The 24-year-old believes that the number eight position allows him to show his best attributes.
Kovac struggled to find the right balance in the first half of the season. He eventually tried a midfield pairing of Joshua Kimmich and Goretzka at the end of 2018. The German duo complemented each other well, but Goretzka had more defensive duties in this role. The 24-year-old admitted, however, that he was enjoying this role under Kovac.
After the return of Thiago, Goretzka was pushed further up the pitch. The former Schalke midfielder added a much-needed goal threat to the midfield and ended the season with nine goals across all competitions. He should be aiming to reach double figures next season as goals from other players will reduce the burden on Robert Lewandowski.
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Kovac might deploy Goretzka in the number ten role more often next campaign as Corentin Tolisso is now completely fit — while James Rodriguez has also left the club. The German midfielder proved his worth in his first season, but it is important that he keeps on improving and gets better next season.