Kimmich: 'Every player must become a leader in this game'

Bayern face probably their hardest assignment of the season so far on Tuesday night, when they must come back from 3-2 down in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final at Paris Saint-Germain. Despite the difficult starting position, the German record champions remain confident that they can make it through and be among the best four teams in Europe. Emblematic of that is Joshua Kimmich, who has embodied the motto of “always keep going” at FCB for many years. fcbayern.com spoke to the midfield engine ahead of the second meeting with PSG.

Interview with Joshua Kimmich

Joshua, why will you make it through to the semi-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday?
“Because we’re the better team, I believe that we will progress. We were the better team in the first leg but unfortunately the result didn’t correspond to the performance. Nevertheless, I’m confident that we can still turn it around in the second leg.”

Is this a typical FC Bayern match in the sense that it comes down to that ‘keep going and never give up’ mentality?
“A lot will come down to mentality, but also efficiency. We already showed a good mentality in the first game but we weren’t efficient enough. This time we need to do both!”

How can you stop the brilliant PSG attack of Neymar and Kylian Mbappé this time?
“In the first leg, they threatened three times and scored three times. Apart from that, I don’t remember Paris having that many chances. Overall, our attack had more of the ball and more chances. Now we have to take these chances.”

How are you approaching the game? Is there even more on you as a leading player?
“It’s down to every individual in our team, not just me. Every player must become a leader in this game; everyone must show their character on the day and carry total belief in themselves. And then we have to strike when the chance is there!”

Over the course of this season, the away teams have often got good results. Is it perhaps not as much of a disadvantage playing away from home at the moment?
“Generally you prefer playing at home because you know everything: the pitch, the stadium, the dressing room – you’re in familiar surroundings. That’s how it will be for PSG in Paris, too. It’s obviously an advantage for the away teams if there are no fans there – or at least it’s not a disadvantage anymore, like it was when fans were there.”

You were in a similar position in the semi-final against Real Madrid in 2018, but you were knocked out after a 2-2 draw in the return leg following an unlucky 2-1 defeat at home in the first leg. Why will it work out this time?
“I still remember the situation in Madrid well. We also produced a great performance there but weren’t effective enough. I hope we’ve learned from that and have matured to some extent. Again, we were not the worse team over the two games but we didn’t go through. This time, we were the better team in the first leg but lost. Even so, it’s still all to play for – and Paris know that too.”

PSG got a confidence boost ahead of the second leg with a 4-1 win in Ligue 1: