FC Bayern München came out on top in their top of the table clash with Borussia Dortmund on matchday 11 of the Bundesliga, finishing 3-1 victors. Germany international Joshua Kimmich was once again an asset for the reigning champions. The 22-year-old spoke after the match about his rapid recovery following a virus, Bayern’s position in the league and the upcoming international matches in London against England this Friday and in Cologne against France on 14th November.
Interviewer: Mr Kimmich, everyone was surprised that you were in the starting XI for the German Classico despite not flying with the team to Dortmund on Friday afternoon. Did you get better overnight?
Joshua Kimmich: I had a virus, an infection. My stomach wasn’t quite right but now everything is fine. I’m not contagious any more.
Interviewer: You were rested during the 3-1 win over Celtic in the Champions League on Tuesday. When did you spot the first symptoms?
Kimmich: We had Thursday off and luckily it hit me on this day. I was already able to train again come Friday but because I was still in danger of passing it on to others, I trained individually and did not travel to Dortmund until Saturday morning. That was so that nobody else in the team would catch it.
Interviewer: Were you yourself then surprised that Jupp Heynckes named you in the starting line-up?
Kimmich: The plan was for me to travel later than the rest of the squad provided that I was fit again in good time. I am really glad that I then got to play but obviously, it was not fully certain that I would. However if the reason had been that I wasn’t picked because I had missed the final training session, that would have been disappointing for me since I was well enough to train. But we didn’t want to put anybody else at risk.
Interviewer: Were you able to cope well throughout the entire 90 minutes?
Kimmich: Yes, I didn’t have any setbacks physically and also had no problems being on for the whole game.
Interviewer: Was the win in Dortmund the sign that Bayern have really turned a corner? And with a four point gap over RB Leipzig and six over BVB, perhaps you are already on your way to the title?
Kimmich: It has only been eleven games! What would you have said four matchdays ago?! That run of form could happen to us again but I hope it doesn’t since we only picked up one point in four games. We’ve gained twelve points from our last four matches but we need to be careful. None of us can say that the title is in the bag. In addition, RB Leipzig are only four points behind us. Mess up in one match and they will be neck and neck with us. We also still have to face Dortmund and Leipzig after the winter break. We just need to make sure we carry on working, keep going and hope that our competitors slip up.
Interviewer: How does it feel when you look at what the table will look like for the next two weeks during the international break?
Kimmich: Very, very positive. Moreover, we are still in the DFB Cup and have reached the round of 16. We are also definitely into the knockout stages of the Champions League and must look towards our final group game in Paris as we battle to try and win the group. So this is a great way to head into the international break so that we can enjoy the two friendlies against England and France.
Interviewer: Does this international break now actually come at a bad time given how well things have been going for Bayern?
Kimmich: We have had some really important matches. The break will do some of us good, such as Arjen Robben, David Alaba and Mats Hummels, who have been playing a lot. Many of us have just been powering through the past few weeks, some nursing a few niggles. I hope that we have a full squad after the break so that we can bring that quality to the pitch.
Interviewer: You have now made 24 appearances with the national team since the summer of 2016, going the full distance for the last 23 of those. That is already the third-longest run in the history of the national team. Would the two matches in November in London and Cologne not be an opportunity for you to watch instead? Would a break do you good?
Kimmich: Well, if it’s up to me, then no.
[pst]
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FC Bayern München came out on top in their top of the table clash with Borussia Dortmund on matchday 11 of the Bundesliga, finishing 3-1 victors. Germany international Joshua Kimmich was once again an asset for the reigning champions. The 22-year-old spoke after the match about his rapid recovery following a virus, Bayern’s position in the league and the upcoming international matches in London against England this Friday and in Cologne against France on 14th November.
Interviewer: Mr Kimmich, everyone was surprised that you were in the starting XI for the German Classico despite not flying with the team to Dortmund on Friday afternoon. Did you get better overnight?
Joshua Kimmich: I had a virus, an infection. My stomach wasn’t quite right but now everything is fine. I’m not contagious any more.
Interviewer: You were rested during the 3-1 win over Celtic in the Champions League on Tuesday. When did you spot the first symptoms?
Kimmich: We had Thursday off and luckily it hit me on this day. I was already able to train again come Friday but because I was still in danger of passing it on to others, I trained individually and did not travel to Dortmund until Saturday morning. That was so that nobody else in the team would catch it.
Interviewer: Were you yourself then surprised that Jupp Heynckes named you in the starting line-up?
Kimmich: The plan was for me to travel later than the rest of the squad provided that I was fit again in good time. I am really glad that I then got to play but obviously, it was not fully certain that I would. However if the reason had been that I wasn’t picked because I had missed the final training session, that would have been disappointing for me since I was well enough to train. But we didn’t want to put anybody else at risk.
Interviewer: Were you able to cope well throughout the entire 90 minutes?
Kimmich: Yes, I didn’t have any setbacks physically and also had no problems being on for the whole game.
Interviewer: Was the win in Dortmund the sign that Bayern have really turned a corner? And with a four point gap over RB Leipzig and six over BVB, perhaps you are already on your way to the title?
Kimmich: It has only been eleven games! What would you have said four matchdays ago?! That run of form could happen to us again but I hope it doesn’t since we only picked up one point in four games. We’ve gained twelve points from our last four matches but we need to be careful. None of us can say that the title is in the bag. In addition, RB Leipzig are only four points behind us. Mess up in one match and they will be neck and neck with us. We also still have to face Dortmund and Leipzig after the winter break. We just need to make sure we carry on working, keep going and hope that our competitors slip up.
Interviewer: How does it feel when you look at what the table will look like for the next two weeks during the international break?
Kimmich: Very, very positive. Moreover, we are still in the DFB Cup and have reached the round of 16. We are also definitely into the knockout stages of the Champions League and must look towards our final group game in Paris as we battle to try and win the group. So this is a great way to head into the international break so that we can enjoy the two friendlies against England and France.
Interviewer: Does this international break now actually come at a bad time given how well things have been going for Bayern?
Kimmich: We have had some really important matches. The break will do some of us good, such as Arjen Robben, David Alaba and Mats Hummels, who have been playing a lot. Many of us have just been powering through the past few weeks, some nursing a few niggles. I hope that we have a full squad after the break so that we can bring that quality to the pitch.
Interviewer: You have now made 24 appearances with the national team since the summer of 2016, going the full distance for the last 23 of those. That is already the third-longest run in the history of the national team. Would the two matches in November in London and Cologne not be an opportunity for you to watch instead? Would a break do you good?
Kimmich: Well, if it’s up to me, then no.
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