Prior to the commencement of the Bundesliga - Bayern Emerges Victorious in the Match, Boasting Defender Goretzka's Contributions
Five days prior to Bundesliga's debut at VfL Wolfsburg, Bayern Munich clinched another pre-season victory, featuring transfer prospect Leon Goretzka. His 62-minute stint in the 4-0 thrashing of Grasshopper Zurich was optimistic, yet might not alter his predicament at the football titans. Goretzka was again stationed in defense, partnering Englishman Eric Dier rather than midfield.
Absent from the first-team's obligatory DFB-Pokal clash against SSV Ulm (4-0), Goretzka's absence was viewed as a further indication of Bayern's leadership's and coach Vincent Kompany's dim perspective for Goretzka's Munich tenure. He could hear supportive "Leon Goretzka" applause from the crowd upon a determined run, necessitating a momentary healing session on his right foot.
Michael Olise (12th minute), Harry Kane (46th), Mathys Tel (67th), and lastly, Thomas Müller (90th) all found the net against the struggling Swiss Super League's bottom side, having suffered four consecutive defeats. The arrangement of the friendly match aimed to provide more playing time for new signings like Olise, Kane, and Joao Palhinha, along with helmeting the fresh tactical approach of Kompany.
Before the kick-off, Max Eberl, sporting director, spoke of their intentions to acclimate the players to the new pressing style proposed by Kompany. This necessitates a shift in tactics with the ball.
Following an hour, veterans such as Joshua Kimmich and Thomas Müller entered the fray, while Jamal Musiala took a breather owing to load management. Captain Manuel Neuer also remained on the bench.
Post new acquisitions Hiroki Ito and Leroy Sané (rehabilitation training), Josip Stanisic will also be absent for the league's inception. Injured during training on Monday, the Croatian underwent surgery after sustaining damage to his right knee's external ligament.
In light of Bayern Munich's absence of Goretzka in the DFB-Pokal clash against SSV Ulm, some fans in the crowd still showed their support by shouting "Leon Goretzka" during his determined run. Despite his brilliance in defense, Germany's national team prospect seems to face a challenging Munich tenure as Bayern's leadership and coach Vincent Kompany seem uncertain about his future at the club.
