Bayern Munich and German national team midfielder Leon Goretzka finally returned from injury and scored a goal in the match against Freiburg earlier this month. With the German national derby just around the corner, Goretzka couldn't hide his excitement in this interview and talked to us about his new role under Nagelsmann and his biggest challenge of the season.
Bundesliga official website: How is the national german competition training mood?
Goretzka: "Our mood has not yet recovered, and being knocked out of the Champions League hit us hard. We will be well prepared for the training week against Borussia Dortmund and use this time to continue to work hard so that we can perform well at the weekend. ”
Bundesliga official website: How do you feel about your recent return to the field and scoring in your first comeback win over Freiburg?
Goretzka: "Coming back to start after such a long absence, it's really good for me to be able to help the team with goals. It was an important game and Freiburg were a very good team. This is the return I longed for, during the injury period I fantasized about this scene every day, because I could not see the return date, so I felt tormented, and now that the dust has settled, I feel that it will slowly get better. Since I came back, I haven't lost any of the three games and I'm finding my rhythm. So, given that I've been absent for so long, I feel like I'm doing a pretty good job. ”
Bundesliga official website: The last game before you were injured was the national derby against Borussia Dortmund, it was a heart-pounding classic game, what do you remember as this game?
Goretzka: "I already had problems with my knees by then. Before the game, there was a discussion within the team about whether I could play or not, but because it was a crucial game of the season, I really wanted to participate, so I came out. We won the game in an unbelievable way and it was always like that with Borussia Dortmund. It's a game of ups and downs that's evocative. ”
Bundesliga official website: There are several special matches against Borussia Dortmund, such as last year's 4-2 win, where you scored in the 88th minute and reversed the score to 3-2 when two goals behind. As a former Schalke player, how exciting is that for you?
Goretzka: "At Bayern, the game against Borussia Dortmund is always special because they are our biggest rivals and the game against them is always so exciting. For me, given my past, even more so. This feeling began when I was seven or eight years old in Bochum. Dort has always been a derby opponent for me, so I can't wait to face Dortmund. ”
Bundesliga official website: Bayern can win the national derby in this round, and the home stadium will be full, how do you feel?
Goretzka: "We were on track to win, but we also missed out on two other trophies. This season we would have had bigger goals. Still, becoming champions in the national derby is within the plan and it's been a highlight of our season. Everyone with a relationship with Bayern can trust that we will give everything in the game and make sure we bring the title home. ”
Bundesliga official website: This is your fourth Bundesliga title, but it is Müller's 11th Bundesliga title, he will continue to set new records, what do you think of Müller as a role model player?
Goretzka: "Incredible achievement, 11 titles, he won all the titles he could possibly win. The reason for spending a full career at Bayern is that, but he is definitely one of the most important faces of this era. He has been a key player for more than a decade and deserves a place in the history of the team as a symbol. His physical fitness is very good, and people often think about how he maintains his form, but anyone who questions him ends up convinced by his performance. Arguably, he is a role model for many of us, he is still eager to win the title and he is really the embodiment of Bayern Munich. ”
Bundesliga official website: Your stadium will be packed this weekend, so?
Goretzka: "There's always a different experience in a full stadium, football is special because of it, and the fans feel empathy for it. Only such a game can regain the magic of football, and the team will really be inspired by the enthusiasm of the fans. Against Villarreal, the atmosphere on the pitch was the best I've experienced at Bayern and we want it next season, every game is the same. ”
Bundesliga official website: What is the biggest challenge of the season?
Goretzka: "We've lost some important players this season, but there have been important additions, new coaches, and we've adapted to some of the new ideas, even though we've specialized in a different football system over the last two years. It all comes with challenges, and we want to minimize the risk. We did a good job in the first half of the season, making great progress defensively and overall, but in the second half of the season there were difficulties, and the difficulties came when they should not have appeared, which caught everyone off guard. In previous seasons, we have always performed well in key battles and this season we have not continued that. We're going to analyze these in more depth in the coming weeks to figure out what the problem is, it's just that we're now fully focused on Saturday's game. ”
Bundesliga official website: Under Nagelsmann' leadership, has there been any change in your role in the team? Where does he see your value to the team?
Goretzka: "He's changed my role on the pitch a bit, for most of the other players. This season, our plans are not going to change too much because of the difference in the opponents, but now we are really in a moment of need to change, so we can't be seen through by the opponents as easily as before, so I will have a completely different task in each next game. It's actually fun, it's a lot of new things to learn, and we're going to keep it that way. ”
Bundesliga official website: As spectators, we can only see the limited conditions in which the team plays. Can you tell us what happens in the team's locker room before an important game? How did you prepare? And isn't it easier to get emotional before an important game?
Goretzka: "Every coach has his own routine, and so does every player. I listen to music every time I go to the pitch, which keeps me in good spirits. When I arrived on the pitch, I would always walk the same path to the dressing room, and then the tension slowly began to emanate. I usually play with Kimmich and talk about some things related to the opponent as I go, and that's our partner's secret: warm up together, play together, and then go back to the dressing room together. The coach would give us final instructions before we went out, then a whistle sounded and the show opened. ”