Leon Goretzka starred for Bayern Munich on matchday seven as Die Rekordmeister overcame Freiburg to move within two points of table-toppers Bayer Leverkusen. The comfortable 3-0 win gave the German champions their second league victory in eight years on the cursed matchday, as they remain unbeaten in the Bundesliga.
However, it would be after the game that controversy arose. As previously reported, Bayern head coach Thomas Tuchel had criticised the DFB for planning the German national team’s international trip in the United States, and this is something that Goretzka would emphasise when speaking to DAZN:
“It’s not optimal in terms of travel and, above all, I personally find it extremely unfortunate that the second game is at 2 a.m. German time. I can’t really understand that. As players, we are in a situation where we do what we are told. Of course we can be critical, but at the end of the day, we are there to perform and accept it in the best possible way. We will do that too.”
The national team are scheduled to play the United States at 9 P.M. this Saturday before facing Mexico at 2 A.M. German time the following Tuesday. After such a disappointing run of results regarding the German national team, combined with Julian Nagelsmann taking charge of the side for the first time, the games’ location and timing have made it significantly difficult for the public to follow the side.
With the European Championships quickly approaching, Germany must ensure they are fully prepared to go the whole way and lift the trophy on home soil. However, every detail surrounding this set of international friendlies seems wholly unthought-through.
GGFN | Will Shopland
