Joshua Kimmich becomes the match winner for FC Bayern against Arsenal FC. DAZN expert Sami Khedira raves about the goalscorer's will after difficult months.
Munich – He remained humble, Joshua Kimmich, FC Bayern's match winner on Wednesday evening in the Allianz Arena.
Joshua Kimmich: Match winner for FC Bayern against Arsenal FC
With his goal in the 63rd minute, the Swabian had recently headed Munich to a 1-0 win in the quarter-final second leg against Arsenal FC and thus a strong will to the semi-finals of the Champions League. “The probability is higher that if you appear in the box, you will do one. I was a bit lucky that no one really felt responsible for me. And then I stood there,” said Bayern star Kimmich on DAZN about his decisive goal against the English.
The DAZN expert was much clearer that evening in the stadium: Sami Khedira. The 2014 world champion literally took on Kimmich's critics in the analysis after the game and raved about the 29-year-old national player's unwavering attitude.
Joshua Kimmich: DAZN expert gives incendiary speech for Bayern star
“It's a will, what Jo shows there, a matter of the head and will. Joshua did a great job,” said the former soccer star from Real Madrid and Juventus Turin, and credited Kimmich with “really good possession of the penalty area” for Bayern’s winning goal. And then he comes rushing up from behind at high speed. Then it’s a great heading technique – great will, focus, a great goal.” The 37-year-old TV expert didn't just stop at football analysis, but wanted to say something else.
“A quick word about Jo Kimmich: At the end of the day, football is always fair somewhere. And what the boy did last season, and especially this season... he can't take corners, he's not a top player, he's not there. “He had a difficult time, with all the corona vaccination, with all the criticism, and no idea how many children he has at home,” said Khedira in an angry conversation with presenter Laura Wontorra. Briefly: Kimmich has three children with his long-term partner Lina Kimmich (née Meyer). And he recently publicly and demonstratively acknowledged the mother of that offspring for her support alongside his football career.
If we then complain about it in Germany and say that he should get lost and go to another country, we don't need him and he can't do anything, I have no idea, you know: experts, sorry, you have no idea!
Sami Khedira at DAZN
Joshua Kimmich: Sami Khedira speaks out against criticism from Bayern players
Back to Khedira. The TV expert continued on the microphone: “We ultimately have to protect such players, and he is one of our leaders. If we then complain about it in Germany and say that he should get lost and go to another country, we don't need him and he can't do anything, I have no idea, you know: experts, sorry, you have no idea! You have no idea about football!” The Swabian, who like Kimmich grew up in football at VfB Stuttgart, left it open which experts the former national player meant in his criticism.
Instead, Khedira said in his all-round attack about Kimmich's leadership qualities: “Today he showed it. And he will also show it at the European Championships, and he will continue to show it in the future. Very, very great character. Really, really great player who sometimes gets a little crazy, but that's why we're there to protect him to a certain extent. Congratulations to FC Bayern and congratulations to Jo – he more than deserves it after all this criticism.”
Joshua Kimmich: Eight header goals for FC Bayern Munich so far
However, Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel remained a little more objective and calm when it came to Kimmich's performance. His team “showed more personality and courage and that’s why they won,” said the FCB coach at DAZN and explained in the analysis of the all-important winning goal: “Josh then has the confidence to do it, that’s good. It's good that Josh has the courage and confidence to go through with it. It’s not typical, but it’s good.”
What Tuchel meant by “not typical”: Of his 44 professional goals so far for Bayern and RB Leipzig (as of April 18), Kimmich scored eight with his head – all for Munich. According to
transfermarkt.de
, his last header hit was
on January 3, 2021 in a 5-2 win in the Bundesliga against Mainz 05. Now he has struck again, the man whom Khedira defended so courageously in public.
(pm)