Unlike a certain Bayern Munich coach from the recent past who directly went to the press to expound on his opinion of Joshua Kimmich not being a “true 6” and lacking the necessary DNA for the position,
German national team coach Julian Nagelsmann deals with the media with poise while leaving the door open for moving Kimmich around based on the demands of each situation.
Speaking to German radio station SWR1 after the 4-0 win against Luxembourg (as captured by @iMiaSanMia), Nagelsmann expressed his desire to “not want to commit to either,” when asked whether Joshua Kimmich will continue at right-back or return to midfield. He explained that he has “committed in the past, but now it’s time to take a step back.” He also added that “with the ball, [Kimmich] is playing exactly the same position he plays with the ball at Bayern,” and that “Josh consistently plays well in several positions.”
Joshua Kimmich, for all the flaws in his defensive game (and there aren’t too many of them), remains one of the world’s best midfielders with the ball at his feet, dictating tempo, spraying balls over defensive lines, serving as an outlet during periods of intense pressure, and as a creative spark during periods of relative inactivity. Nagelsmann, who also previously coached him at Bayern, knows this all too well and wishes to exploit Kimmich’s capabilities to their fullest potential.
This is the same Kimmich who once thrived as a center-back under Pep Guardiola. Kimmich has shown that he can be a world-class right back under several coaches, most memorably contributing to a Champions League trophy from the position upon Thiago’s return to the starting lineup in the 2019/20 season. Nagelsmann has previously shown a preference towards playing Kimmich in midfield, but he seems to be intent on fixing oversights of the past, and we are likely to see the player occupy the right-back spot as and when the situation demands.
Kimmich remains Germany’s best right-back, and with a dearth of quality right-backs in the roster, and an abundance of midfield talent, Nagelsmann can also choose to experiment more with Kimmich at the full-back position. Either way, this seems to be a welcome change to the stubborn nature of the proclivities that could sometimes make Nagelsmann’s teams more rigid.
One thing is certain. Kimmich will thrive wherever he plays. Maybe it’s time to move him to GK and push Manuel Neuer to the spot he was always meant to man—the heart of midfield.