In a recent column written for Sky Germany, former Bayern Munich and Germany midfielder Lothar Matthäus had plenty of praise to give to Bayern’s Aleksandar Pavlović – a player that has really been enjoying a solid season under Vincent Kompany thus far. The column from Matthäus came within close proximity to the lengthy interview Julian Nagelsmann did with kicker where he discussed a lot of different aspects of the German national team as we’re now just over three months away from the tournament kicking
off in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
In the interview, Nagelsmann had made a point of saying that his current preferred midfield pairing for Germany consists of both Pavlović and Leon Goretzka since Joshua Kimmich is going to be the starting right back and even though Goretzka has not been a regular starter for Bayern. For Pavlović, he’s a mainstay at the heart of Germany’s midfield and it’s going to stay that way this summer.
In the recent column he wrote for Sky, Matthäus referred to Pavlović as a number six type of player that is a “ball machine,” making a reference of admiration to his distribution abilities amongst a long list of laudations of Bayern’s number 45. He also drew comparisons to former Germany, Real Madrid and Bayern mideifielder Toni Kroos, who Matthäus sees a lot of in Pavlović.
The Bayern midfielder was justifiably flattered by the legendary comparison from Matthäus, but he had influences of his own and still wants to remain as level-headed as possible as he progresses forward. “When Lothar Matthäus compares you with Toni Kroos, it’s nice to hear, but there’s still a long way to go. I have to stay grounded and keep working hard. Sergio Busquets was a player I looked up to in my position. Of course Kroos as well, especially towards the end of his career. I got to know him in the national team, and it was great to watch and learn from him. Also Xavi and Andrés Iniesta, as well as Bastian Schweinsteiger – they are the players for me,” Pavlović explained (via @iMiaSanMia).
This is also a huge window and chance for Pavlović. He’s worked incredibly hard to establish himself as a starting midfielder for both Bayern and the German national team, but his season was significantly hampered last season due to a collarbone injury as well as ongoing illness. Before that, he missed out on being a part of the Euro 2024 squad due to still recovering from an infetion that plagued him for most of the 2023/24 season under Thomas Tuchel. He can finish the season strong with Bayern this time around and carry that momentum right into the World Cup with Germany.
