German national team coach Julian Nagelsmann knows that Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich can be a lighting rod for criticism. but the manager thinks that just comes with the territory for a player like the midfielder.
”He is a player who polarizes, both through his style and his ambition. Ambition is something that not everyone finds particularly sympathetic. If you are someone who always wants to win and embodies that very much, many people interpret that as arrogant or too ambitious. He is someone who has an opinion and makes it known. I don’t think you necessarily have to be above reproach. You have to try to always do your best and give it your all,” Nagelsmann told Süddeutsche Zeitung (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).
Kimmich definitely can rub people the wrong way, but his value to both Bayern Munich and Germany is unquestionable at this point. As captain for Germany (and the future captain for Bayern Munich), Kimmich is more than willing to take on the heat, rather than expose his teammates to it.
