The legendary German also praised ‘World’s Best Player’ Robert Lewandowski…
All-rounder Joshua Kimmich is undoubtedly one of the most important players in the Bayern Munich setup.
The 25-year-old, who played a key role in the 2019-20 season, trebled by Bayern Munich, will look to help the Bavarians win the Club World Cup which started in Qatar.
Kimmich, who can play both defense and midfield with aplomb, left a German legend Lothar Matthaus very impressed.
While acknowledging that Bayern star striker Robert Lewandowski, who won FIFA’s 2020 Best Player of the Year award, is indeed the team’s best player, Matthaus believes Kimmich is present. and the future of the club.
“The best player in the world is Lewandowski. The best thing FIFA has done is give him the trophy for the best player in the world. In recent seasons he has been the perfect player on the perfect squad, ”said Matthaus, FIFA’s first-ever player of the year in 1991. Goal.
Matthaus, who represented Germany in five consecutive World Cups in the 80s and 90s, went on to describe Kimmich as an all-around player with the classic “German” mentality.
“Joshua is one of the most important players in German football not only now but also for the future. I see him as a new (next) Bayern captain, I see him as a new (next) national team captain. He has the German mentality.
“He always does his best. He’s a winner. He can defend, attack, give the last pass, give the cross, score, play with passion. He’s got a lot of quality and he’s only 25, so that’s fantastic.
Kimmich will next be seen in action at the Club World Cup, currently underway in Qatar when they face African champion Al Ahly in the semi-final on Monday.
Matthaus believes that Bayern Munich are the favorites for the world crown, especially as the team are very familiar with the Qatar facilities as they normally base their winter training camp in the Middle Eastern nation.
“The tournament is very important for FIFA and football around the world, this is where the continental champions compete. Bayern are the European champions and the tournament favorites.
“They have the pleasure of playing in a country they know. They know the climate, the atmosphere, the route from the hotel to the stadium and it is always a good impression for the players. But I think it’s not a big difference with the other teams. It’s good for Bayern to go to a place they know, ”he said.
Bayern currently lead the Bundesliga comfortably with a 13-point advantage over closest rivals RB Leipzig and look set for another trophy-filled season. Matthaus felt that the current squad cannot be compared to the successful teams of the past, but felt that they were definitely some of Bayern Munich’s strongest teams.
“It’s very difficult to compare teams from 10 or 20 years ago. At the moment, Bayern have one of the strongest teams in Bayern football history. Maybe the best team ever, but I really can’t say they’re any better than (Franz) Beckenbauer’s and (Oliver) Kahn’s team.
“The team is very strong, everything is working well and not just on the pitch. Everything around the club is perfect and organized, everyone is working for the best result. The coach (Hansi Flick) and the team work very well together, they understand each other.
