Julian Nagelsmann revealed Joshua Kimmich did not want to take a break after Germany’s Euros exit

While as a collective, Germany didn’t perform anywhere near their best at this summer’s European Championships, Joshua Kimmich was arguably one of a short list of Die Mannschaft players worthy of hanging their head high after exiting in the round of 16 by virtue of a 2-0 loss to England.

Kimmich was playing out of his preferred position with Joachim Low insisting on using him at right-back, but he did well for himself in what was a difficult group to get out of.

Now, it’s time for Kimmich, like a handful of his Germany teammates, to shift gears back to Bayern Munich, where a new era has already begun at Sabener Strasse with new manager Julian Nagelsmann. The former Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig boss recently sang Kimmich’s praises in a Bild interview along with fellow midfielder Leon Goretzka. He’s said that he plans on keeping Kimmich in midfield, and in a recent interview with Sky Sports Germany, revealed how much Kimmich was raring to start training again when he spoke to him after the Euros.

“Josh is on fire, of course, he’s got a huge ambition. We also spoke briefly after the European Championship. Yes, he wanted to get back into the game right away, not even go on vacation,” Nagelsmann explained. For those quite used to Kimmich, his intensity, and his on field mannerisms, it should come as no surprise that he wanted to forego a holiday and get straight back to training after Germany’s disappointment. You’d be hard pressed to find a match where you couldn’t find at least one still image of video clip of Bayern and Germany’s number 6 letting out a ferocious roar for either positive or negative reasons based on what’s happened on the pitch.

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For Nagelsmann, it’s important to him that Kimmich, like the rest of his players that were involved in the Euros, gets the proper amount of rest after what’s been an incredibly physically demanding season for both club and country. The fixture congestion is as great as it’s been in years due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and what’s been asked of players throughout Europe’s top leagues, especially the players involved for their countries has been absolutely immense.

Nagelsmann knows just how important the rest will be for Kimmich, especially for his life off of the pitch, just as well as on it. “I think that’s something I always pass on to him. That he always allows himself rest periods in order to bring his mega-mentality and mega-quality onto the pitch. I think it’s crucial that you’re not always on the edge, but that you allow yourself phases in your life. He’s also a family man. And then we’re all looking forward to him coming back here on the 31st and leading the boys on the pitch with the way he plays football, the way he lives this sport, the way he strives for success and also sets an example,” the new Bayern manager said.