Bayern Munich’s Leon Goretzka hears his detractors, but doesn’t let it affect him

Leon Goretzka tunes out the noise…for the most part.

Bayern Munich midfield Leon Goretzka has had a strong season, but that does not mean that he has not been the target of disgruntled fans online.

For the 29-year-old he knows it is part of his job.

“You have to accept these things. Everyone has their opinion. Of course it would be nice if everything were a bit more civilized. But unfortunately that is not the case. This doesn’t just affect football, it can happen to anyone on social media. That’s extremely disappointing. We should think about how this can be regulated. I’m lucky that things don’t bother me too much. But there are definitely many users who unfortunately don’t get along with it so well,” Goretzka told Sports Illustrated (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). “Pressure is something very positive for me. I really like it. It probably helps me in my job too. When it mattered most, I was able to deliver top performances. I like it when you’re a bit nervous before games. That’s why I’m not afraid of pressure.

“Disappointments are also part of it. You learn that very early, especially in football. Losing games starts in training. But that’s why you play in a team, that’s the beauty of team sports: that you can support each other. Like at FC Bayern this season, which wasn’t quite as successful as we expected and as we were used to. These are experiences that you take with you and you can mature from them.”

When asked about what could improve the sometimes combative nature between players, fans, and the media, Goretzka gave an assessment of what might improve things between all three parties: “If I’m being completely honest, we should stop trying to generate clicks at the expense of the players — both in social media and in reports.”