Germany international Joshua Kimmich has enjoyed a fantastic start to the season. The 21-year-old has already bagged four goals in all competitions following his 1-0 winner against Hamburger SV on matchday 5 of the Bundesliga. He spoke with DFB.de after the game about what was going through his mind just before his goal, his thoughts on rotating the squad and what he expects from the upcoming match against Athletico Madrid.
Interviewer: Mr Kimmich, HSV made life difficult for Bayern right up until the goal. You and the rest of the team had to work much harder than Hamburg until you made the breakthrough with your late winner.
Joshua Kimmich: I was fortunate to score such an important goal so late in the game. I think we should have scored earlier, although Hamburg had the better chances in the first half. In the second half we created better opportunities and thankfully we eventually got the goal.
Interviewer: Franck Ribéry provided the assist, dribbling down the left wing and whipping the ball into the middle.
Kimmich: The ball took another bounce before I got to it and I just thought, “You're not allowed to miss this one!” There wasn’t long to go after I scored. Luckily I didn’t have much time to think about it because the ball came to me pretty quickly. Then I just side-footed it and fortunately it went in.
Interviewer: Is that just the special quality that Bayern have, getting the win in the end even in close matches?
Kimmich: Not taking your foot off the gas until the final whistle and always believing in yourself are qualities that players at this club have always demonstrated.
Interviewer: You've now scored three goals for FC Bayern after bagging a goal against Norway in the World Cup qualifier. Are you now also Bayern’s most prolific goalscorer alongside Robert Lewandowski?
Kimmich: A real goalscorer is consistent over many weeks, whereas I have only scored in two or three matches at the moment.
Interviewer: Why did FC Bayern struggle so much in the first half against a poor HSV side?
Kimmich: We expected Hamburg to play aggressively before the match. However we lacked ideas and were too static. In the second half we improved and played the ball around quicker. There was more movement in our game and that's why we created better chances.
Interviewer: On Wednesday you will face Atlético Madrid in the Champions League. A similar performance to the one in the first half against HSV will not be good enough.
Kimmich: We definitely need to be better, especially in the first half. We all know what to expect from Atlético, as we witnessed it first-hand last season. Everybody already knows what there is to say. We simply have to improve.
Interviewer: Will it be revenge for last season's exit in the Champions League semi-finals?
Kimmich: I wouldn't call it revenge. Sure, we want to win but this time the game is being played under different circumstances. Last time, it was a knock-out game but now it’s our second group game, so it’s completely different.
Interviewer: You haven't started every game this season, most recently when you were on the bench for the entire match during the 3-0 win over Hertha BSC. New head coach Carlo Ancelotti is rotating players a lot, particularly in midfield. Is it difficult to adjust to playing with different players?
Kimmich: I’m not sure I would say it is difficult, because we only have top players in our squad and everyone has enormous quality. It's a good thing that we are able to make changes in each game and to give players a rest. Obviously you always want to play, especially in important games. I've already been given opportunities this season and when I get my chance on the pitch, I want to take it and give it my all.
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Germany international Joshua Kimmich has enjoyed a fantastic start to the season. The 21-year-old has already bagged four goals in all competitions following his 1-0 winner against Hamburger SV on matchday 5 of the Bundesliga. He spoke with DFB.de after the game about what was going through his mind just before his goal, his thoughts on rotating the squad and what he expects from the upcoming match against Athletico Madrid.
Interviewer: Mr Kimmich, HSV made life difficult for Bayern right up until the goal. You and the rest of the team had to work much harder than Hamburg until you made the breakthrough with your late winner.
Joshua Kimmich: I was fortunate to score such an important goal so late in the game. I think we should have scored earlier, although Hamburg had the better chances in the first half. In the second half we created better opportunities and thankfully we eventually got the goal.
Interviewer: Franck Ribéry provided the assist, dribbling down the left wing and whipping the ball into the middle.
Kimmich: The ball took another bounce before I got to it and I just thought, “You're not allowed to miss this one!” There wasn’t long to go after I scored. Luckily I didn’t have much time to think about it because the ball came to me pretty quickly. Then I just side-footed it and fortunately it went in.
Interviewer: Is that just the special quality that Bayern have, getting the win in the end even in close matches?
Kimmich: Not taking your foot off the gas until the final whistle and always believing in yourself are qualities that players at this club have always demonstrated.
Interviewer: You've now scored three goals for FC Bayern after bagging a goal against Norway in the World Cup qualifier. Are you now also Bayern’s most prolific goalscorer alongside Robert Lewandowski?
Kimmich: A real goalscorer is consistent over many weeks, whereas I have only scored in two or three matches at the moment.
Interviewer: Why did FC Bayern struggle so much in the first half against a poor HSV side?
Kimmich: We expected Hamburg to play aggressively before the match. However we lacked ideas and were too static. In the second half we improved and played the ball around quicker. There was more movement in our game and that's why we created better chances.
Interviewer: On Wednesday you will face Atlético Madrid in the Champions League. A similar performance to the one in the first half against HSV will not be good enough.
Kimmich: We definitely need to be better, especially in the first half. We all know what to expect from Atlético, as we witnessed it first-hand last season. Everybody already knows what there is to say. We simply have to improve.
Interviewer: Will it be revenge for last season's exit in the Champions League semi-finals?
Kimmich: I wouldn't call it revenge. Sure, we want to win but this time the game is being played under different circumstances. Last time, it was a knock-out game but now it’s our second group game, so it’s completely different.
Interviewer: You haven't started every game this season, most recently when you were on the bench for the entire match during the 3-0 win over Hertha BSC. New head coach Carlo Ancelotti is rotating players a lot, particularly in midfield. Is it difficult to adjust to playing with different players?
Kimmich: I’m not sure I would say it is difficult, because we only have top players in our squad and everyone has enormous quality. It's a good thing that we are able to make changes in each game and to give players a rest. Obviously you always want to play, especially in important games. I've already been given opportunities this season and when I get my chance on the pitch, I want to take it and give it my all.
