With the defeat at RB Leipzig, FC Bayern has given rivals Dortmund a steep assist. Two Bayern stars in particular were visibly disappointed afterwards.
Munich – When Deniz Aytekin blew the final whistle for the match between FC Bayern and RB Leipzig at 20:25 CET, Joshua Kimmich stood alone on the pitch for minutes and looked sunken towards the south corner.
| Joshua Kimmich | |
| Date of birth: | February 8, 1995 (age 28) |
| Association: | FC Bayern Munich (contract until 2025) |
| Position: | Defensive midfield |
| Market value: | 80 million (source: transfermarkt.de) |
Joshua Kimmich is in tears after Bayern defeat in title race
The Munich team had just lost 1-3 and thus served the championship to their biggest rival from Dortmund on a silver platter. With a win at FC Augsburg on Sunday, BVB can move past Bayern ahead of Matchday 34.
When the TV cameras caught Kimmich after the final whistle, the 28-year-old's eyes were moist. The next blow to Kimmich's neck. Perhaps he remembered December when he also had to tearfully explain the renewed World Cup exit of a German national team? Or March, when the cup exit destroyed the next title for the ambition Kimmich? Or the elimination against Man City in the Champions League?
Joshua Kimmich was in tears after the defeat against RB Leipzig. © IMAGO / Ulmer/Teamfoto/ MIS
Joshua Kimmich at FC Bayern: Next title gone!
Now the next title is probably gone! "The anger, for me personally, is also huge, because you want to win every title," said Kimmich in the mixed zone: "That's why you compete, that's why you play for FC Bayern. Of course, the pressure is there to win every game. But that's why we're here, because we all want to win. That's generally an issue that we need to bring even more to the pitch."
Doesn't everyone want to win titles at FC Bayern? Strikingly, after Leipzig's equaliser in the 70th minute, the team fell apart completely, not for the first time this season. Only Kimmich showed with his body language that he wanted to defend himself against defeat.
Tearful Kimmich after title defeat: "That's also the reason why we're not German champions yet"
The question of why is not only asked by Kimmich. "It's difficult to explain because it's happened to us far too often this season," he doesn't know how to explain: "It has been the case far too often that we give up a lead, that we give up a controlled, dominant lead. That's also the reason why we're not already German champions."
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Kimmich is surprised by his own team. "What surprises me a bit is that we've actually had dominant, good games in recent weeks," said the vice-captain: "Especially the Schalke game and then a good week of training with a lot of intensity, fun and also a lot of quality. And then we break away in the second half."
Serge Gnabry also cries on the substitutes' bench after title defeat
Serge Gnabry was already on the bench at the final whistle. The striker, who had scored the deserved lead against RB Leipzig, had to leave the field exhausted after 70 minutes. He was also in tears after the final whistle, and his glassy eyes could be clearly seen on TV. Tearful Bayern after title disaster?
"You can't look into everyone, but it's clear that the disappointment is huge," Kimmich explained after the game in the catacombs of the Allianz Arena. For this season, there may not be a trophy for the record champions after eleven championships in a row.
Joshua Kimmich on the verge of a move? Real Madrid and FC Barcelona could be options for 2024
Why? "At the end of the day, we get the goals after a corner kick of our own and the two penalties happen after an opponent's throw-in or corner," Kimmich summed up. And then explained: "It's no coincidence when you see that this is happening to us so, so often this year."
So it didn't really come as a surprise this week that Kimmich was linked with a change of club. FC Barcelona and Real Madrid were mentioned. For 2024, these may not be impossible fantasies. Especially after such a season ... (smk)
Reporting from the Allianz Arena: Florian Schimak
