Even at FC Bayern, Julian Nagelsmann always relied on Joshua Kimmich’s services, and the Munich player was also a regular in the national team under the new national coach in the first games. Until the Austria test: Kimmich suddenly found himself on the bench against his neighbors. The surprising measure was discussed before kick-off in Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium.
In an interview with “ZDF”, Nagelsmann justified his omission of Kimmich from the starting eleven with his long-term plan for the home European Championship. “We want to test variability. Also with a view to the tournament,” said the 36-year-old.
“We can’t always play with the same couples,” explained Hansi Flick’s successor with a view to the EURO (June 14th to July 14th): “A tournament is played with 14 or 15 players. Not with ten, not at 18. That’s where we’re moving at the moment.”
Instead of Kimmich, his Munich teammate Leon Goretzka played alongside captain Ilkay Gündogan in defensive midfield. The duo last started there together in the group “final” at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar against Costa Rica (4:2).
Nagelsmann always trusted Kimmich at FC Bayern
The fact is: The decision against Kimmich is a novelty in the relationship between Nagelsmann and the 28-year-old. When he was still coaching FC Bayern, the trainer never once let his star student languish on the bench.
Kimmich always started in 73 competitive games and was substituted nine times – like on Saturday in the 2-3 defeat against Turkey.
In his 81st international match, the first under Nagelsmann, he was replaced by Goretzka in the 71st minute. Gündogan and Kimmich, Lothar Matthäus expressed the general expert opinion on “RTL”, “simply don’t fit together”.
Kimmich was absent from Nagelsmann’s debut as national coach on the USA trip due to illness.