"Just like Sunday league: Leon Goretzka faces criticism at Bayern" | OneFootball

The 2-2 draw between FC Bayern and Union Berlin not only ended the record champion’s winning streak, but also sparked new debates—especially about Leon Goretzka. The 30-year-old replaced Aleksandar Pavlovic in the starting lineup, but was hardly able to distinguish himself in the midfield duel in Berlin.

While Joshua Kimmich directed the game, Goretzka remained largely inconspicuous. The result: criticism of the national player increased significantly on social networks. Many fans now see other players—above all Tom Bischof—ahead of the veteran.

Fans judge mercilessly: “One of the most hated Bayern players”

On X (formerly Twitter), numerous Bayern fans delivered a harsh verdict on Goretzka’s performance. User Bayern90M wrote: “Goretzka is one of the most hated players among Bayern fans lately. It’s time for him to leave.”

Other posts also left little room for interpretation. User 8esart sharply criticized the midfielder’s tackling: “The Leon Goretzka often described by the German media as ‘physical and strong in tackles’ against Union Berlin: 0 slides, 0 fouls committed, 3 out of 8 duels won.”

User spielertrainer_ added: “How does Goretzka go into a tackle like that? Timing like in an amateur league.”

Youngster Bischof as a symbol of fresh energy

Tom Bischof was especially often mentioned as a possible winner of this debate. The 19-year-old set up Harry Kane’s equalizer in stoppage time with a pinpoint cross and brought fresh energy into the game after coming on as a substitute.

User Official_Benji_ summed up the mood of many fans: “If I see Goretzka starting ahead of this man one more time, I’ll lose it. What a world-class cross from Tom!”

Poor numbers reinforce criticism

The statistics currently speak against Goretzka as well. Against Union, he recorded ten turnovers, failed to complete either of his two long passes, and had only 60 touches overall—too few for a central midfielder in the Bayern system.

Looking ahead to his future, the situation remains open: Goretzka’s contract runs until summer 2026, and there have been no talks about an extension so far. Internally, the 30-year-old is still considered a player who always leads by example, but the competition—especially from Pavlovic and Bischof—is noticeably increasing.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.