“I’m being teased about it”: Kimmich’s double relief

Goal drought ended: Joshua Kimmich thanks Jamal Musiala for his assist.
IMAGO/DeFodi images

“The game was very good,” said Joshua Kimmich DAZN after the clear 5-1 win over RB Leipzig on Friday evening and briefly summarized. “We got in really well and then got the equalizer,” he said, referring to the two particularly early goals in the Allianz Arena, which ensured the fastest 1-1 draw in Bundesliga history, and at the same time noted that “ Nevertheless, we realized from the start that we wanted to win the game. And that’s exactly what “we did in a confident manner.”

In the end, thanks to goals from Jamal Musiala, Konrad Laimer, Kimmich himself, Leroy Sané and Alphonso Davies, there was a clear victory – it was also compensation for the weak performance a week ago at 1. FSV Mainz 05 (1:2).

“We players also felt that the game in Mainz was our worst performance of the season in all respects,” Kimmich looked back and added: “It was significantly different today. It was very important for us that we showed a reaction.” The positive reaction probably not only brought relief to Kimmich, but the six-man had another reason to be happy.

The icing on the cake was Kimmich’s first goal of the calendar year. His powerful shot from 20 meters after Musiala’s template hit half-high on the right and was ultimately instrumental in Bayern’s victory.

“I’ve told Jamal again and again over the last six months that I’m free there and he’s welcome to find me,” he said about his goal and revealed: “I’ve always been teased for my shot – it’s pretty good in training .”, but it has never worked like that in the game. I had to wait a long time, luckily he went in today.

Laimer: “This is how people can go on their winter break”

In the end there was “a very important win against a good team,” as new father Laimer added Sat 1 said. At the same time, the Austrian pointed out that “on the whole, victory was never in danger. This way people can go on their winter break.”

Hardly any Bavarian would know what it feels like to end the year with a defeat, because that hasn’t happened for 40 years or, in other words, 40 games. Munich’s balance sheet at the end of the year since the 2:3 in Gladbach on December 11, 1984: 26 wins, 14 draws and no defeat.