Mehmet Scholl puts Joshua Kimmich on blast: “the Greta Thunberg of German soccer!”

Bayern Munich legend Mehmet Scholl has a nighttime radio program in Bavaria. If you, like me, and probably very many Bayern fans outside Bavaria, were unaware of that fact, we might say that even bad press is good press. At any rate, Scholl’s radio program suddenly caught the attention of a much broader audience than usual for the host’s biting remarks about Joshua Kimmich.

Scholl said this about Kimmich on his show:

The whole statements and interviews — that was a bit much for me. And then I thought about it: he’s the Greta Thunberg of German soccer.

Thunberg, the now 17-year-old climate activist, was voted TIME magazine’s “person of the year” in 2019. She has no reservations and, I daresay, gives zero fucks about who she offends — but Scholl did not intend the comparison as a compliment. He elaborated,

He’s the one who, with his 24 years, thinks he has to constantly prod every sore spot, which I find hard to stomach. He simply isn’t senior enough for that. Of course he should be built up to become a leading player — yeah, fine. His performance: fits somewhat. Only: where’s it headed? You’re no Schweinsteiger yet.

Kimmich obviously has asserted himself as a senior player at Bayern Munich far sooner than most young players would normally do. But Kimmich, obviously, is no ordinary young player. That might peeve Scholl, but even Bild backs Kimmich on this one. They asked Hansi Flick about Scholl’s comments at the press conference ahead of the team’s clash with RB Leipzig. Flick told it like it is:

I haven’t read that myself, I’m not concerned with that. Mehmet and I, however, talk often, the communication is good. Joshua Kimmich is an important player. I like players who come forward and give their opinion. He’s on a very good way, and I am very, very happy with him.

You do you, Jo.