Kimmich confirms: next season he plays right-back

In an interview with Sport Bild, rising star Joshua Kimmich confirmed that Bayern Munich’s head coach Carlo Ancelotti intends to play him at right-back in the coming season. The statement confirms what many anticipated: Kimmich will succeed Bayern legend Philipp Lahm at right-back in Munich just as he has on the German national team.

Kimmich revealed that he sat down with Ancelotti in mid-May to discuss his future with the club, after he had openly expressed his frustration. “The season was not satisfactory for me, so naturally there was a discussion.”

The outcome of that discussion appears to have soothed Kimmich’s concerns and renewed his eagerness to prove himself at Bayern:

For me, it is a huge chance that the club is planning to play me at right-back. I want to use this chance to confirm their confidence [in me] with solid performances. And I am confident I can do it.

With Kimmich, under contract until 2020, thus seemingly a lock at right-back, it would appear that Rafinha will continue in his role as back-up. The Brazilian national player is under contract through the end of the 2017-18 season. Newcomer from Hoffenheim Sebastian Rudy could also potentially fill in at right-back.

At present, Kimmich is devoting his full attention to helping the German national team’s Confederations Cup campaign this summer.

I want to gather as much experience as possible and am always excited for something new, excited to be able to wear the national team jersey. The idea of not playing in the Confederations Cup, provided that the national coach nominated me for it, was thus never up for discussion for me. On the contrary - I’m already really excited and full of anticipation for it.

Kimmich has indeed been a revelation for the national team, having played every minute of the past fourteen matches, logging an impressive 7 assists and an absolutely electrifying bicycle-kick goal, which is well worth watching again.