By Henrik Petersen

Leon Goretzka: Joining Dortmund was never an option for me

Leon Goretzka feels his move to Bayern from Schalke 04 was the 'logical and right step' for him.
Leon Goretzka.
Leon Goretzka.Photo: Rufus46, CC BY-SA 3.0
Bayern München midfielder Leon Goretzka claims he never considered joining Borussia Dortmund when he played for Schalke 04.

Speaking to WAZ, the 24-year-old has explained why he decided to make the move to Munich in 2018.

"At the time, we won the derbys against Dortmund, so that wouldn't necessarily have been a step forward," Goretzka said and added:

"Joking aside, joining Bayern was the logical and right step for me. I quickly felt very comfortable in Munich.

"If you play for Schalke in the Bundesliga and want to consistently improve, Bayern is the only possibility in the league," he underlined.

Goretzka has made 50 appearances for Bayern, racking up 10 goals and eight assists.

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Match report Bundesliga Matchday 11First-half flurry guides Gladbach past toothless St. Pauli
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Table

Kickfieber

Match days

Team of the week BundesligaBundesliga Team of the Week: Matchday 11
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 11First-half flurry guides Gladbach past toothless St. Pauli
Post-match reaction FSV Mainz 05Da Costa praises Bell's defensive direction: "He leads us for the full 90 minutes."
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 11Mainz easily dispatch harmless Kiel, move up to seventh place
Post-match reaction Eintracht FrankfurtGötze reflects on Frankfurt role: "I feel like the grandpa here."
Post-match reaction 1. FC HeidenheimSchmidt cites Pieringer injury as reason for loss
Other Wolfsburg & DFBBaku takes the SEAL path: "Discipline is the bridge between goals and their realization."
Post-match reaction Dortmund & DFBBrandt credits DFB training work for set-piece stunner
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Preview Borussia Mönchengladbach, St. PauliBorussia Mönchengladbach vs St. Pauli preview: Hosts look to continue home run
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Post-match reaction BayernKane after converting 25 straight penalties: "Practice is the time to miss."
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Post-match reaction Bayer 04 LeverkusenAlonso on Liverpool loss: "60 minutes is not enough to win a game at this level"
Post-match reaction RB LeipzigBaumgartner says Leipzig players need to "look in the mirror" after Celtic defeat
Post-match reaction Bayer 04 LeverkusenXhaka reacts to Liverpool defeat: "We conceded goals too easily"
Match report Borussia DortmundMalen magic delivers victory for Dortmund
Match report RB LeipzigKühn bags brace as Celtic add to Leipzig's European worries
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RB LeipzigConfirmed lineups: Celtic vs. RB Leipzig
Match report UEFA Champions LeagueConfirmed lineups: Borussia Dortmund vs. Sturm Graz
Bayer 04 LeverkusenConfirmed lineups: Liverpool vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer 04 LeverkusenTerrier ruled out of Leverkusen's match against Liverpool
VfB StuttgartMittelstädt says Stuttgart are "extremely excited" ahead of Atalanta clash

DFB-Pokal

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Other Eintracht FrankfurtDFB confirms two-match cup suspension for Theate
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Match report DfB PokalHertha Berlin spring upset as Heidenheim's Pokal dreams end in controversy
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Post-match reaction RB LeipzigBaumgartner on Leipzig success despite injuries: "All this crap has brought us closer together."
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Match report DfB PokalAugsburg advance past Schalke, Karlsruhe eliminate Kickers Offenbach
Match report DfB PokalLeipzig see off St.Pauli in six-goal Pokal thriller
Match report DfB PokalLeverkusen make light work of Elversberg
Other Eintracht FrankfurtToppmöller draws comparison to Özil in explaining Chaibi's form dip: "A matter of body language."

German National Team

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Match report DFBUnstoppable Germany roll over Bosnia-Herzegovina to seal top spot
DFB Confirmed lineups: Germany vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina
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DFBNagelsmann gives update on Wirtz and confirms goalkeeping decision
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DFBStiller ruled out of Germany's games against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Hungary
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Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga Matchday 1"Ones to watch" for Bundesliga Matchday 1 (New transfers edition)
Analysis/Commentary FantasyFantasy Bundesliga: A guide to the new rules for the 2024/25 season
Analysis/Commentary Bayer 04 LeverkusenHow Bayer Leverkusen could line up for the 2024/25 season
Analysis/Commentary FC BayernHow Bayern could line up for the 2024/25 season
Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against Denmark
Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against Switzerland
Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against Hungary
Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against Scotland
Analysis/Commentary BundesligaShould the Bundesliga relegation/promotion tie be scrapped?
Analysis/Commentary BundesligaBundesliga Team of the Season
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga "Tactics Talk"Bundesliga Tactics Talk: Round 34
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga Matchday 34"Ones to watch" for Bundesliga Matchday 34
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga "Tactics Talk"Bundesliga Tactics Talk: Round 33
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Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga "Tactics Talk"Bundesliga Tactics Talk: Round 32
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga"Ones to watch" for Bundesliga Matchday 32
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga "Tactics Talk"Bundesliga Tactics Talk: Round 31
Analysis/Commentary BayernBayern Munich player ratings against Real Madrid

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