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It is perhaps the presence of Joshua Kimmich, more than any other, that meant that losing a central midfielder of the calibre of Thiago Alcântara to Liverpool has done so little to threaten Bayern Munich’s long-term dominance of the Bundesliga and hopes of retaining the Champions League. Reinvented from the full-back he had become to the classiest of midfielders with the same remarkable success as once witnessed with Philipp Lahm, he is Bayern’s most important player.
Though it was with RB Leipzig that he first established himself as so promising a talent, Kimmich’s consistency, composure and mindset also perfectly captures the relentless drive for more that continues to inspire Bayern’s success. “Joshua Kimmich is an absolute professional, a mentality monster,” said their manager Hansi Flick. “He’s always in the game; he never gives up. He’s one who always pushes but of course has enormous quality on the ball.”