Bayern Munich: Thomas Muller will have bigger role in absence of Joshua Kimmich
Thomas Muller will become an even important player for Bayern Munich after Joshua Kimmich suffered a serious injury.
Bayern Munich suffered a major blow two weeks ago after Joshua Kimmich suffered a serious injury against Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga. The German midfielder is not expected to play again in 2020. Die Roten will hope that Kimmich will be completely fit for the club world cup in February.
Kimmich is a vital part of this Bayern team. The German international has been helping the team to dictate the game from a deeper position throughout the last campaign. He has always insisted that midfield is his favourite position, so it was a golden opportunity for him last season to establish himself as one of the best midfielders in Europe.
The composition of the midfield is set to change in the absence of Kimmich. Leon Goretzka and Corentin Tolisso are likely to be first choice midfield options. Both are excellent midfielders, but they are not excellent passers like Kimmich.
The German international can beat the press and break lines with ease, while Goretzka and Tolisso often look at retaining possession by playing simple passes. Both of them do offer goal threat that can be a big help for the team, but Die Roten will need better passing options in the midfield to make them a successful midfield duo.
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Thomas Muller could be the man that can offer that extra option by moving slightly deeper. He can drag defenders with his movement in the final third. He is equally capable on the ball, so dropping deep would give Tolisso and Goretzka an extra passing option in midfield when the opposition is pressing hard.
Dropping deep is likely to alter the attacking patterns for Die Roten. Muller will engage defenders when comes to pick up the ball since giving him too much space and time on the ball is dangerous. This is likely to open up spaces for the front three. Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane are devastating with their pace, so Muller moving into midfield could create more chances for them.
Last season, Muller racked up assists with his pin-point crossing. Since he is a technically astute player, Muller can deliver dangerous crosses from deeper positions that can be met by Robert Lewandowski in the box. This move will also help Die Roten to get a numerical superiority in central midfield.
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Muller will not replace Kimmich’s qualities straight away, but a slight tweak in the former’s position can help Die Roten to keep dominating games and extend the winning run. Flick has relied on Muller to deliver consistent performances during the treble win last season. His flexibility has benefited Die Roten in the attack. Maybe, same versatility and clever sense of space can help him to do better in a deeper role.