He was not only considered one of the best players in Germany, but also the future captain of the national team and FC Bayern. Is Kimmich now burned for this office?
Joshua Kimmich is in the middle of the next public tsunami, as Bavaria’s honorary president Uli Hoeneß called the debate about the national player’s refusal to vaccinate in October (Read the full article here). After his publicly expressed concerns about a vaccination caused a stir, Kimmich had to go into quarantine unvaccinated in November, and then he infected himself with Corona. Now he suffers from lung infiltration as a long-term consequence (Read more about lung infiltration here) and will be canceled until the end of the year, as FC Bayern announced last week. Each time there were huge discussions far beyond football.
That is why the 26-year-old spoke up in a ZDF interview.
Kimmich showed understanding. He let the team down (Here you can read all the statements in the ZDF interview) and said: “Of course – in retrospect I would have preferred to have made the decision to vaccinate earlier, but at the time it was not possible for me.” Because of his fears and concerns, as he explains.
What are the consequences for his career?
The interview is now being discussed controversially. Has that rehabilitated Kimmich? Does he deserve a second chance? What are the consequences of all this for his career? Especially since Kimmich was not only considered one of the best and most important players at Bayern and in the national team, but also as the legitimate successor of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer as captain until the debate about refusal to vaccinate.
Which leads to the question:
Has Joshua Kimmich burned to death as the future captain of FC Bayern and the national team? (See the full discussion here im Video)
Florian Wichert
Deputy Editor in Chief
Pro
Yes, Kimmich has missed indispensable properties
What do you think makes a good captain? The full awareness of the role model function? Definitive. Willingness to sacrifice for the collective? Certainly. Unrestricted acceptance in the team? Definitely. A good captain has to lead the way – especially in a crisis.
And especially with Bavaria and the national team.
Just like Manuel Neuer does – and Joshua Kimmich doesn’t. The 26-year-old has disqualified himself for this position and the new successor in the last few weeks. Clearly: that’s it for him. Because Kimmich missed all of these indispensable properties. With his refusal to vaccinate, he set a bad example for society. He let his team down. He jeopardized the success of FC Bayern and its acceptance in the team and lost some of it.
Sure: Kimmich has already been punished as much as possible. Quarantine, corona disease, wages and salaries, long-term consequences, worries about your career – and then one public tsunami after the other. He not only revealed all of this in an open and honest interview. With his insight, he has even taken a big step towards rehabilitation. But that doesn’t change the fact that he was burned for such an important position with which he represents German football in the world. It’s a shame, but not all great footballers are good leaders.
Against
No, because Kimmich will emerge stronger from this crisis
Joshua Kimmich made mistakes and was rightly criticized for them. He should have been vaccinated long ago and confused many Germans because of his concerns about the alleged long-term consequences of a corona vaccination, which were not well founded. But he’s not burned forever just because he was wrong. On the contrary.
The 26-year-old has now admitted in an interview that he was wrong and now wants to be vaccinated. And that’s exactly what shows real greatness. Showing one’s understanding is the basis of our culture, it is humane and, above all, democratic. Kimmich said in public that he was wrong. A great move.
And let’s be honest: in the end, it’s all about football. Let’s not hang the post of captain of the national team too high. It is and remains sport – and the job of the DFB captain can by no means be compared with the post of Minister of Health, let alone that of Chancellor.
Kimmich is first and foremost an outstanding player. One thing is certain: he will emerge stronger from this personal crisis and shape German football for years to come. And that as a captain.
Who is right?
In the “duel of the week”, Florian Wichert (Deputy Editor-in-Chief at t-online) and Robert Hiersemann (Head of Football and Sport) comment on current football topics every week. See the format in the video above or from 9 p.m. on free TV as part of “Bundesliga Analysis” on Sport 1.
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