Matthäus praises Goretzka’s fighting spirit at Bayern Munich

Vor Rückspiel in Leverkusen

Lothar Matthäus, Germany’s record national player, is highly impressed by Leon Goretzka’s fighting spirit at FC Bayern Munich. He noted that Goretzka’s style of play reminds him of his own time as a professional football player, as stated in Matthäus‘ column for Sky.

„I have never understood the criticism directed at Goretzka and have always been on his side. I have often said that he is the Bundesliga player who is closest to me,“ Matthäus wrote. „I have been following Leon for ten years, and he has reminded me of the young Lothar from the beginning. Playing box-to-box has always been my role throughout my career.“

Matthäus praises Goretzka’s mentality

Matthäus expressed his happiness for Goretzka, who was considered a candidate for sale at the start of the season but has since become a key player for the Munich team. As a Bayern fan, he believes one can be proud of Goretzka.

„He was publicly sidelined, but he continued to fight and push through. This not only demonstrates what kind of footballer he is but also what kind of person he is, showcasing the mentality he possesses,“ the 1990 World Cup champion added. „He has shown everyone how important he can be for Bayern, not just this season but also in the future.“

Goretzka reacts to praise

Goretzka was pleased to receive the compliments from the 63-year-old as he was asked about it ahead of the Champions League Round of 16 second leg against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday at 21:00 (Amazon Prime). The contract of the 57-time national player with Munich runs until 2026, but Goretzka stated that he is not currently thinking about his future.