'Strength, maturity and clarity of mind' - Bayern Munich man hailed for 'working like a mad man' to get back into Vincent Kompany's side after summer transfer reports

Former German international Khedira sung praises of Goretzka and hailed him for fighting his way back into the plans of head coach Kompany. The attacking midfielder started in the DFL-Supercup final against Stuttgart on Saturday, which Bayern won 2-1, and played 92 minutes before being subbed off in stoppage time. Khedira was in awe of the 30-year-old's performance, emphasising on his impact in the win and sheer resilience amid rumours that he was surplus to demands at the Allianz Arena.

With the rise of Aleksandar Pavlovic, Goretzka saw his role at Bayern significantly reduced during the 2024–25 season. His campaign got off to a rocky start, as Kompany made a bold statement by leaving him out of the squad entirely for the Bundesliga opener in August 2024. However, Goretzka remained determined and continued to work hard behind the scenes. His perseverance eventually paid off, as he managed to win over Kompany and earn the manager’s trust over time. Despite the club’s desire to move him on, Kompany increasingly relied on the German international throughout the season. Goretzka went on to make 22 starts across the Bundesliga and the Champions League, and was relied upon during the Club World Cup, too. 

Speaking to Sport 1, Khedira said: "Outstanding. It shows strength, maturity, but also extreme mentality and clarity of mind."

He also spoke about how the former Schalke midfielder did not make a fuss about his situation at Bayern and instead focused on getting better, saying: "Publicly, he has completely kept his mouth shut. Internally, from what we hear, he has been working like a madman, and he is highly respected within the team... Through his behaviour, he has also sent a signal to national coach Julian Nagelsmann."

There haven't been any rumours or suggestions that Goretzka could be offered a new deal. The player has already entered the final year of his contract with Die Roten and Bayern's willingness to offload him has been quite clear since last summer. However, if he can consistently deliver at high levels, Goretzka could well be given the opportunity to prolong his career at the Allianz Arena.