Michael Ballack sees himself in Leon Goretzka and gives him some advice

Bayern Munich and German national team, Michael Ballack spoke recently with Sport1 about the comparisons made between Leon Goretzka and him. The Capitano said,

I have noticed the comparisons with Leon Goretzka. His playing style is similar to mine from earlier. Leon, as a midfielder, has a great advantage: he is a scoring threat. These players make the difference.

Leon often searches for where he can position himself. That is also a strength, to recognize where on the field you are needed. That is also an aspect that is beneficial to the team. These types of players are wanted by coaches.

Goretzka has fit well into Hansi Flick’s midfield system, often completing the midfield triangle with Thiago and Joshua Kimmich. However, Bayern’s bench is very deep, and there is competition in the midfield. Philippe Coutinho, Corentin Tolisso, and Michael Cuisance are all competing to take minutes away from Goretzka.

With this competition in mind comes Ballack’s foremost advice for Goretzka: “Leon must develop himself so that it is a given that he always plays.”

According to the following comments made by Flick, it certainly seems like a given at the moment that Goretzka is going to play:

Leon played had a very good game against Schalke. He has enormous quality and is very strong box to box. It also pleases me that he has strengthened our defensive game. We have a compact, strong defensive midfield, but we can also implement offensive impulses. That is an important and good player.

The result of that confidence today? Another outstanding, strong performance against Mainz, crowned with an assist on Thomas Müller’s goal. Leon has game: