Freund, Eberl, Kompany, Kimmich, and Müller all comment on Goretzka's limbo
Kompany himself has also commented on the matter, as have Goretzka's long-time teammates/friends Joshua Kimmich and Thomas Müller. Kimmich and Müller took care to emphasize that they sympathized with their colleague.
The blockbuster news that German national team veteran Leon Goretzka would be omitted from FC Bayern München's match-day squad yesterday evening necessitated comment from virtually all those associated with the German record champs. FCB administrators Christoph Freund and Max Eberl weighed in, as did head-coach Vincent Kompany and two of the 29-year-old's teammates.
"We communicated the decision to him," Freund told reporters in the mixed zone last night, "It's a highly competitive situation in the positions, six and eight, that Leon plays. It's not an easy situation for him, but he continues to give his all in training."
"It's not a huge topic," Freund continued when asked if there had been inquiries for Goretzka, "but I'm sure there's interest for him as he's a very good player."
"We have a very, very good squad," Eberl noted in a pre-kickoff interview, "We've made further additions in midfield. Joshua Kimmich is returning to midfield. Goretzka has a contract and we respect that, but it's not at all unusual to be blunt about sporting projects."
"All I can do is repeat what I said before the match," Kompany remarked at a post-match presser, "As a club and organization, we always wish to be straightforward with our players. This is an internal family matter if I can put it that way."
Goertzka's long-time friends and teammates Thomas Müller and Joshua Kimmich were certainly less flat in their post-match comments. After a game in which both of them supplied radiant play for their team. the two German national team veterans furnished more personal statements about their left-behind colleague.
"I have to be careful with my words," Müller began in the mixed zone, "It's a tough situation for Leon, but he's nevertheless training excellently. When one takes into consideration the strength of the roster and the decisions the coach has to make, there will be tough choices."
"But myself and the lads don't care to leave anyone behind," Müller continued, "Whatever happens in the next days and weeks we'll see, but Leon is one of us. He shows us that he's one of us and the feeling is mutual. I have no idea how things will proceed."n
"In the end, it's not my decision [who serves in the match-day squad]," Kimmich added when conducting a post-match interview with German public broadcaster ZDF, "From my perspective as a player, I would like to be on the pitch with Leon. I feel a bit bad for him."
"But I'm not the one who makes those decisions," Kimmich emphasized again as he continued, "That's a decision for coach and club. And I don't know what kind of discussions are going on."