Vincent Kompany: Leon Goretzka an important player for Bayern Munich despite falling out of favor

Vincent Kompany has labeled Leon Goretzka an important player for Bayern Munich despite falling out of favor in recent weeks.

It is no secret that Bayern Munich wanted to sell Leon Goretzka during the summer transfer window. But the midfielder's desire to stay at the club meant that a transfer failed to materialize.

"He's important for us and will continue to be" - Vincent Kompany on Leon Goretzka

Goretzka has found himself in and out of the Bayern matchday squad in recent weeks. And after his goal off the bench against Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday, Vincent Kompany was asked to comment on the 29 year old.

"He's important for us and will continue to be," Kompany said in an interview with DAZN. "The team loves him. I only have players who want to play and accept the competition for places. At Bayern, it's always easy to talk about individual players. But I want to talk about the team, that's important to me. He is very important in this team. He's doing well, but so are the others."

Goretzka came off the bench to replace Raphael Guerreiro in the 81st minute on Tuesday, with Bayern already leading 7-2. He found the back of the net in the 92nd minute with a fantastic diving header past the Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper.

The goal will certainly give some confidence to Goretzka, who was left out of Bayern's matchday squad for the Bundesliga clash against Holstein Kiel on Saturday and has been reduced to a bit-part role in the team. The former Schalke 04 player has made just two substitute appearances for Bayern so far this season.

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With the competition for places very high, especially in midfield, Leon Goretzka will hope to continue to work hard in training to either earn more playing time at Bayern Munich or force a move elsewhere in January.