Joshua Kimmich's midfield mastery resurges at Bayern Munich

However, at the Allianz Arena this season, Kimmich has returned to his best, showcasing the commanding presence fans remember.

Last year, Kimmich found it challenging to cover the vast midfield areas, exacerbated by inadequate squad planning. This led to a temporary shift to right-back under Thomas Tuchel, a position he also occupied briefly during the Euros with Germany under Julian Nagelsmann.

But with Vincent Kompany at the managerial helm, Kimmich has been restored to his natural midfield role.

Kompany's trust in Kimmich is clear; after 24 matches, Kimmich has played every minute, delivering top-tier performances. Kompany has expressed his satisfaction, stating, "He's played every minute and shown how crucial he is to us. My role is to keep players motivated, happy, and ready to battle," he said.

Supported by the robust play of Aleksander Pavlovic, Kimmich has been able to control the midfield with greater liberty. His stats this season are career highs, averaging 121 ball involvements per game, attempting 103 passes, and achieving an 89.6% pass completion rate.

His performance in the match against Leipzig towards the end of 2024 was particularly telling. Kimmich said, "We played a great match. Everyone saw that today we were determined to win. It was important for us to respond," after a game where he managed 104 ball actions, a 93% pass accuracy, scored from long range for the 3-1, and assisted Alphonso Davies for the fifth goal with a precise pass.

As Toni Kroos retires, there was speculation that Kimmich, not yet 30, might have seen his peak. With his contract expiring soon, allowing him to leave on a free transfer is something Bayern can hardly contemplate, especially since he can start negotiating with other clubs from January 1st.

Kimmich has spoken on the matter, noting, "Everyone knows my position. It's a big decision. I know what I have at Bayern. My family loves Munich. We need to weigh what we want and where we want to go," he said.

Yet, Bayern's leadership has been vocal about their desire to keep him. "Of course, we want him to stay with us. I would be delighted if he ended his career at Bayern. Someday he should be our captain. He's a role model and should continue to be one," said Bayern president Herbert Hainer. 

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