Leon Goretzka is disappointed that he hasn't been nominated for upcoming Germany friendlies but the midfielder is expected to shake that off and continue his good showings at club level, his Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel said on Friday.
Goretzka was among several prominent players left out by national team coach Julian Nagelsmann for games against France and the Netherlands, and he could now face an uphill battle to make the squad for the Euro 2024 home tournament as well.
"Leon is very disappointed. It was a very tough decision. He was always good lately. I am convinced that he will play tomorrow and play well again," Tuchel told reporters on Friday ahead of a Bundesliga date at bottom club Darmstadt.
While Goretzka was left out, 19-year-old fellow Bayern midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic was one of six newcomers in Nagelsmann's squad although he has played a mere 12 Bundesliga matches.
Tuchel said Pavlovic's nomination was a surprise but that "we have to accept the decisions. It is Julian's job as national team coach to make the nominations."
Looking ahead at the Darmstadt game, Tuchel said that "the quality in matches and training is rising" with several players back from injury.
Bayern thrashed Darmstadt 8-0 in the reverse fixture, with all goals coming in the second half, after two Darmstadt players and Bayern's Joshua Kimmich were sent off before the break.
Bayern are coming off an 8-1 thrashing of second-last Mainz, and Tuchel pledged that "we will not stumble," which they can't afford given a 10-point deficit on league leaders Bayer Leverkusen with nine games left.
Bayern are also in the Champions League quarter-finals were they were on Friday drawn to play Arsenal.
