“The Exciting Kimmich Debate at FC Bayern”

FC Bayern is in the middle of the deepest sporting crisis in years. In the recent defeat at 1. FSV Mainz 05, Joshua Kimmich had to leave the field prematurely in the hot phase. Ex-national player Jens Lehmann then initiated a leadership player debate. Help might come in the summer.

When FC Bayern fell 2-1 behind in Mainz last Saturday, head coach Thomas Tuchel took an unusual step. The 49-year-old took Joshua Kimmich, an actually undisputed regular, out of the game and brought on youngster Ryan Gravenberch.

The substitution came to nothing, in the end FC Bayern lost 3-1 and has now lost the lead in the Bundesliga.

Kimmich is not a leader, Jens Lehmann then judged on the TV station “Bild”. “Kimmich never learned it, you can see that on the pitch. Kimmich never learned how to organize the game on the pitch,” said the former keeper, who focused on training in the German youth academies.

FC Bayern has certainly lacked the necessary structure for weeks. The longtime TV reporter Marcel Reif also blamed “a hole in the squad”. The record champion would lack a classic clearer in defensive midfield, the 73-year-old analyzed on “Bild”.

Ex-professional Dietmar Hamann took the same line last autumn. “He’s not a six for me,” said the football expert at the time in the “Bild” podcast “Bayern Insider” about the FCB star.

Strong opinion Joshua Kimmich at Bayern in low form

Kimmich has his strengths above all in game design. But his patented chip balls have rarely found a taker on the offensive in recent weeks. Defensively, the 28-year-old – like the entire team – was extremely shaky recently. Significant: When the goal was conceded to make it 1-2, Kimmich lost sight of Mainz’s Leandro Barreiro in the back and was therefore instrumental in the chain of errors.

Although Kimmich is currently in a low form, he is trying to take on the responsibility he is asked to take on. Especially away from the green turf, the opinionated national player was noticed again and again. Kimmich publicly presented himself to head coach Tuchel after the quarter-finals in the Champions League against Manchester City.

“He comes here and we have very important games right away. He’s dependent on us players and there are no excuses for us players. We can’t blame the coach. At the end of the day we’re on the pitch and we have to fix it “, the midfielder took the FC Bayern team to task in an interview with “DAZN”.

New midfield partner at FC Bayern?

The problem: There was no reaction in the subsequent away game at 1. FSV Mainz 05. As a result, the Munich team now ranks one point behind Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga. The first untitled season since 2011/12 is imminent.

In summer every stone should therefore be turned on Säbener Straße. FC Bayern will also react in terms of personnel. According to media reports, Konrad Laimer from RB Leipzig is said to be the first new signing for the coming season.

Kimmich could benefit from the reported obligation. After all, Laimer has made a name for himself in the Bundesliga as a strong midfielder who runs and fights hard. The 25-year-old Austrian would be predestined to have Kimmich’s back at Bayern in the future.

Jannik Kube