Five Bayern Munich Players that need to Improve in the Ruckrunde

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MUNICH, GERMANY – NOVEMBER 30: Leon Goretzka of FC Bayern Muenchen runs with the ball during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Allianz Arena on November 30, 2019 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by A. Hassenstein/Getty Images for FC Bayern) /

Leon Goretzka

Bayern Munich has a very impressive midfield and when in form, is a very destructive force that can defend, and also create chances for attackers. Leon Goretzka is one of the key players in that midfield. He was once touted as the next great midfielder for Bayern and Germany. However, Goretzka is yet to cement his place in the starting eleven at Bayern. Part of this is due to tough competition, and another part is injuries, but Goretzka should be making more of an impact on the pitch.

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For me, the current problem is how Goretzka oftentimes disappears in games even though the stats say that Leon is doing just fine. His expected goal output sits at 1.5 given his game time, and with two goals and two assists in all competitions, he is exceeding the analytics. Having said that, stats can be misleading. There are several times when he goes missing in the game and doesn’t demand the ball when the team is dominating possession. As a central midfielder, this is vital for a team to succeed, and with no one midfielder having solidified that spot, it’s there for Goretzka’s taking.

To improve here, Goretzka has to work on being more demanding and aggressive on the pitch. The talent and potential is there, but Bayern wants to take the next step in Europe, so Goretzka has to work on his limitations. Every great team in Europe has at least two midfielders that start every week. Bayern has one in Kimmich, but they need another dominant midfielder. If Leon can be more aggressive, he can be the next Schweinsteiger or Vidal.