One of Bayern Munich fans greatest fears was that they wouldnt be able to find someone to replace their legend Philipp Lahm at right-back.
Besides, Jogi Löw may have thought he would have the same problem in the German national team.
However, Bayern and the national team now dont have to worry about that position since Joshua Kimmich is among the best three right-backs in world football.
Kimmich has a market value of £63 million and is currently the right-back with the second-highest market value behind Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is worth £72 million.
They’re about on the same level but since Alexander-Arnold is 20 years old and so four years younger, his market value is higher.
This tactical analysis, which is a scout report, will examine Kimmich’s abilities, examine why he’s so important for Niko Kovač’s team, and discuss which position the German will play in the next few years.
Joshua Kimmich Positioning and movements
When the 24-years-old Kimmich joined Germanys most successful club in 2015 he was a central midfielder.
Although during the last two seasons he mainly played as right-back since Lahm retired in 2017, Rafinha was the only right-back in Bayerns squad who wasnt able to play each week on the highest level anymore.
In light of this, Kimmich was their new right-back.
In the 2018/19 campaign, the German was Bayerns only player to play every minute of the Bundesliga.
In 30 matches, he was the right-back. In the remaining four games, he played in the central midfield, and Rafinha replaced him in the full-back position.
The image below shows us his heatmap for these 34 games in the Bundesliga.
It’s a quite typical heatmap for a modern full-back of a top team like Bayern, which usually dominates its games and has more possession than its opposition.
Mainly providing width and position on the wing to stretch the opposition or create a passing lane.
However, since he’s an educated central midfielder Kimmich also likes to shift in a few feet.
Kimmich usually positions wide while the two centre-backs and the defensive midfielder, mostly Thiago, are responsible for the build-up.
His positioning is similar to Bayern’s left-back David Alaba who also likes to position near the touchline.
Due to that, they either stretch the opposit
