Daily Schmankerl: Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich has plan foiled by Hansi Flick; Douglas Costa’s new job; Robert Lewandowski is back at the top; Leo Messi to Manchester City (!?); and MORE

Kimmich wanted to play, but Flick nixed that idea (TZ)

Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich is known for his intensity on the pitch and his desire to never come off of it. Given that Kimmich and his partner Lina Meyer were expecting a baby this weekend, the 25-year-old certainly was tugged into a couple different directions.

Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick, however, made the choice easy for Kimmich. As it turns out, Kimmich was thinking of flying in Saturday morning and then leaving immediately after the game.

Flick, though, insisted that Kimmich stay home.

“He would have flown to join the team in the morning and then immediately back. But I gave him time off so that he could wind down a bit,” said Flick said after the game.

All things considered, Bayern Munich did not need or miss Kimmich on Saturday and a day rest (well...as much rest as you can have when your partner gives birth) probably served Kimmich well.

Costa get a new job (AZ)

Douglas Costa found himself in a new position on the pitch over the weekend. While the 30-year-old is familiar with just about any spot across the front-line, the Brazilian was asked to be the low protection for the Bayern Munich wall on a free kick.

Costa, however, was not quite sure how that worked and did several rolls until he got into just the right position. With his face buried deep in the grass, Manuel Neuer would have been jealous.

“Lucas Hernandez told him how to lie down,” Flick said. “Usually that’s Jo Kimmich’s job. But in the end, Douglas did a pretty good job.”

Manuel Neuer found Costa’s inability to find the correct position quite comical.

“That looked a bit funny,” said Neuer. “But in the end, he got it right and everything worked out.”

Bavarian Grass Works addendum (Bavarian Football Works)

Speaking of Neuer, you might have seen yesterday’s latest edition of Bavarian Grass Works where the goalkeeper expressed his admiration for Arminia Bielefeld’s fine grass. Well, our own John Dillon gave it the meme treatment and boy did this hit the mark:

John Dillon / Bavarian Football Works

Huge credit to John for this one...I am still laughing.

Lewandowski back in the saddle (@Bundesliga_EN)

With his brace against Arminia Bielefeld, Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski is now back atop the list of Bundesliga scorers:

Flick not happy about Tolisso’s red card (AZ)

If there was anything that Flick disliked about the squad’s weekend win, it was the red card awarded to Corentin Tolisso. Flick did not mince words and criticized the 26-year-old World Cup winner for not making a better effort.

“Corentin had a bit of a head start. He has to put his body in there, then he can play the ball back to Neuer,” said Flick. “Just a stupid red card, you have to say.”

As a result of the dismissal, Tolisso will miss Saturday’s match against Eintracht Frankfurt. The loss of potential game time is disappointing to Bayern Munich as the club bosses “wanted Tolisso to really take off this season.”

Messi to City? (Daily Star)

FC Barcelona star Lionel Messi might be reuniting with Pep Guardiola in January according to the Daily Star. With Messi rumored to be ready to leave for free next summer, the Daily Star is reporting that Manchester thinks a €16 million bid could be enough to convince the cash-strapped Catalans to let Messi leave early.

Should that move fall through, Messi will reportedly still have plenty of options next summer. Manchester City, Juventus, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and MLS are all considered contenders to do battle for Messi.

Hey — you still here after that Pep Guardiola-induced Messi story? — our guy John Dillon has some Bayern alumni news to share just below!

Happy Birthday, Dante!

The erstwhile Bayern defender had a special congratulations for his former club as Bayern celebrated his 37th birthday: he was banging the drum to celebrate another Bayern Treble!

— John Dillon

Robben happy to make his comeback for Groningen (@ArjenRobben)

“Played minutes again and next time I’ll shoot!” the Dutchman remarked in jest.

— John Dillon