Nagelsmann on Kimmich role
“I don’t always want to commit myself to it that way.”
10/10/2025 – 11:52 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Nagelsmann pushes the captain outwards again – and he pays back with two goals. There could also be an interplay in the future.
Joshua Kimmich was ordered back to his old position in the clear 4-0 win against Luxembourg – and impressed once again. Only recently, for the qualifying games in September, national coach Julian Nagelsmann announced that his captain would be permanently in the midfield center again in the future and that he would also position him there against Slovakia (0:2) and Northern Ireland (3:1). But now he changed his mind again.
“I don’t always want to commit myself like that. The last time I obviously committed myself too much. Then everyone says: roll backwards from the roll backwards,” said Nagelsmann on ARD after the victory in Sinsheim. A leader has to make a decision – that’s what he did.
With the ball, Nagelsmann said, Kimmich acts as a right-back in a position “that he also has with the ball at Bayern”.
Kimmich showed a strong performance. The captain scored with a hand penalty (21st minute) and also made it 2-0 (50th). It was his first double in the DFB jersey.
For Kimmich himself, the exact position doesn’t play a big role: “For me it’s natural to play where the coach sees me.” At the club he is clearly placed in the six position, in the national team he has no problem with the right side or the midfield.
After the clear success, Nagelsmann and Kimmich were satisfied with the team’s performance. The national coach praised a “significant increase” in terms of greed compared to the performances in September. At that time there was a 0:2 in Slovakia and a 3:1 against Northern Ireland.
The second leg against the Northern Irish is on Monday. One thing is certain: the game will be played in Belfast. It is still unclear which position Kimmich will play in.