Joshua Kimmich gave vent to his frustration after FC Bayern’s defeat at VfL Bochum (2:3). The German international even clashed with Munich assistant coach Zsolt Löw. Jan-Christian Dreesen, the CEO of the German record champions, and head coach Thomas Tuchel took a stand afterwards.
“Josh must have been fairly well served on the substitutes’ bench, but that’s normal,” said Dreesen about a heated argument between midfielder Kimmich and assistant coach Löw that took place after the defeat in Bochum.
“He always gives his all and wants to win. It’s understandable that Josh is just angry at that moment,” said Dreesen.
Among other things, “tz” reporter Patrick Strasser reported on angry discussions between Kimmich and Löw on the short message service X. When Kimmich and his teammates left the pitch completely frustrated, the Hungarian actually wanted to high-five the 29-year-old. But a scuffle almost broke out.
As “Sportbuzzer” reports, Löw even had to be held back by some Bayern employees when he wanted to follow Kimmich into the locker room.
Dreesen and Tuchel comment on the Kimmich Zoff
Joshua Kimmich was substituted after 63 minutes when the score was 1:2 and new winter signing Bryan Zaragoza came into the game to replace him. As could be seen from the TV images, the German international took the decision anything but well.
Head coach Thomas Tuchel didn’t want to make a big deal out of the matter. He knew “what was going on,” but it was “not for the public,” said the 50-year-old: “These are football locker rooms, it’s emotional there. That doesn’t say anything.” The whole thing was a “pretty normal incident after a defeat”, and it remained “within limits”.
Due to the defeat in Bochum and Bayer Leverkusen’s victory in Heidenheim (2-1), FC Bayern’s gap to the top of the table is now eight points. In the Champions League there is a risk of elimination in the round of 16 after the 0-1 defeat at Lazio Rome, in the DFB Cup the Munich team had a sensational failure against 1. FC Saarbrücken.