Born in Munich, Zvjezdan Misimovic once celebrated his professional debut in the FC Bayern jersey and previously played for the German record champions in their youth ranks for many years. Now the former midfielder has joined the debate about Bayern star Joshua Kimmich.
Recently there was a public discussion about whether FCB head coach Thomas Tuchel had dismantled the once undisputed regular player Kimmich. Tuchel’s statements about unfulfilled transfer wishes and non-ideal fillings for individual positions got this debate rolling.
Misimovic, who played three Bundesliga games for FC Bayern before becoming a regular player at VfL Bochum, 1. FC Nürnberg and VfL Wolfsburg, also doesn’t see Kimmich as a classic central defensive midfielder: “Kimmich isn’t that now Six, which he imagines, he is of course a bit more offensive with the ball, likes to play the game, I would say,” said the 41-year-old in an interview with “wettbasis.com”.
However, Thomas Tuchel’s public quarrel with the existing player personnel at FC Bayern also displeased the Bosnian, who sensationally became German champion with VfL Wolfsburg in 2009: “If your wish for a six-pointer is not fulfilled in the transfer period and you have this player material, then “You shouldn’t badmouth him or put him down. You should strengthen him because you need him this season if you don’t have a replacement.”
Kimmich “more of an eight” for Misimovic
Misimovic sees criticizing Kimmich as “complaining at a very, very high level,” after all, the 28-year-old has already delivered outstanding performances in the defensive midfield center.
Misimovic, who also played in Turkey, Russia and China after his time in the Bundesliga, was nevertheless firm in his assessment of Kimmich: “I don’t see him as a pure six. I would say more as an eighth. If you, of course With Goretzka and Kimmich playing in midfield and Kimmich likes to go forward, but Goretzka also has his qualities, if he moves forward from the second row, against some teams you would want someone who is there in front of the defense is present and supports the defense.”