Much was new at the refurbished Allianz Arena on Sunday evening. The 1-0 win over Manchester United was Bayern’s first outing at their redesigned home. The sell-out crowd of 75,000 marvelled at the many red-and-white features that will greet them at every home game from now on.
Among so many changes, there was one thing that has evidently stayed the same. Joshua Kimmich patrolled the right flank in his usual fashion against the English record champions, snuffing out many of the Red Devils’ attacks and always looking dangerous on the attack. “The coach’s instructions were to create chances from the wings and press well. We did that,” said the full-back after the match.
It was the 23-year-old’s first Bayern appearance since Germany’s crushing exit at the group stage of the World Cup in Russia. That shock doesn’t appear to be weighing on Kimmich’s mind anymore, though. “Sadly you can’t play in a World Cup every year, which makes it even more disappointing. It took me a few days of my holiday to get over it all,” revealed Kimmich.
Positive verdict of first training sessions under Kovac
Although his first season as the team’s right-back went well on a personal level, Kimmich believes Bayern could have won more than just the Bundesliga title. “When you look at where we were in all competitions in April, it’s certainly frustrating how we threw away the Champions League and DFB Cup,” bemoaned the Germany international, who is determined to challenge for those trophies again this season.
And Kimmich believes Bayern have the best chance of doing that under their new coach Niko Kovac. “Training is certainly more extensive. We’re training for longer and there’s more focus on basic endurance,” said the 2017 Confederations Cup winner following his first few sessions under Kovac. “I hope and believe that will do us good during the season.”
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