The problem with Joshua Kimmich has been known for a long time.
As good as he is at FC Bayern has beaten in all other positions – in internal, external defense and elsewhere: he has never made a secret of his desire to play six in midfield at Bayern.
In the Bayern boardroom, they know and respect the wishes of their young leader. For several years, you have therefore been looking for solutions to fill the position of legal defender elsewhere.
Kimmich convinces as a right-back
In this context, what’s spicy on the weekend in the 5-2 win against FSV Mainz 05 happened: Kimmich had to help out on the right back again in the second half and may also be forced to continue in the not so beloved position by coach Hansi Flick.
“That’s exactly how we want to see it,” Flick was then enthusiastic about the performance of the national player, who initiated the turnaround with the goal to 1: 2 and another assist. “Make few mistakes and provide impetus for the future.”
So Kimmich is back where he doesn’t really want to play. What went wrong? Could the Bayern management around sports director Hasan Salihamidzic have prevented the current situation through better transfer planning?
Pavard’s Formtief reveals problems
In itself, this planning has been aimed for years so that Kimmich is no longer needed as a right-back and is free for the six-man role. Benjamin Pavard’s commitment – the Pavard who is currently completely out of shape – in summer 2019 served this purpose, among other things.
The 24-year-old, mainly active as a central defender at the ex-club VfB Stuttgart, had actually recommended himself as a right-back at the 2018 World Cup: He was tournament winner in the position with France.
In the 2019/20 triple season, Pavard was mostly active in the back right at Bayern, Kimmich could be rotated into midfield. And backups for Pavard were also taken: In January 2020 Álvaro Odriozola was loaned from Real Madrid, after whose departure Bouna Sarr came from Olympique Marseille.
Odriozola did not leave a big mark on Bayern, which was not significant because of a strong Pavard season. Now, however, the situation is different: Pavards Tief draws attention to the fact that Bavaria’s backup plan has not worked.
Flick dissatisfied with Pavard
“In the first half, especially on the right-hand side, we didn’t have too many situations that we were satisfied with,” said Flick, explaining the exchange between the Frenchman and Mainz: “Ultimately, it was about accepting the duels, we have that missed the first half. Because we didn’t win enough tackles on the defensive, the opponent was always dangerous. “
A clear verdict on the dubbed Pavard. When, if not now, would it be time for a backup?
But Sarr has been outside for several weeks. Flick still justifies it with the thigh injury that threw the 28-year-old out of step in November. Viewed soberly, the access did not play a minute in the league after the 7th matchday.
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Significant: Against Wolfsburg and Leverkusen, Flick instead built on Niklas Süle, who is just as little a permanent solution in the position as the youngster Chris Richards, who is actually also at the center.
Was Sarr the right decision instead of calling Dest?
Flick’s right-back puzzle might have been less complicated if Bayern had managed to sign preferred candidate Sergino Dest from Ajax Amsterdam. The American, however, preferred to move to his declared dream club, FC Barcelona and made a big hit there.
The Catalans paid 21 million euros, however, also 13 million more than the Munich for Sarr. In Corona times, it may sometimes make more sense to prefer economic reason to what is sportily desirable.
Even if it is temporarily painful in situations like the current one. “It is noticeable that last summer about 15 percent lower transfer fees were called,” said Karl-Heinz Rummenigge recently in CHECK24 double pass. “With salaries in the top range, it is only now slowly starting to drop. The payrolls of the top clubs are actually way too high for the problems we have.”
Is Bavaria backing it up again on the right?
Barcelona, to stay in this picture, has Dest, but otherwise serious sporting and financial difficulties.
Munich, on the other hand, would have the chance to retrofit for the right rear. The transfer window is open until February 1st. Even if it is currently rather unlikely, Flick has not ruled it out: “We discuss these things internally,” he said after the Mainz game when asked.
The Bavarians may have to go back to a transfer construction site that they actually wanted to close long ago.
