Bayern Munich: Philipp Lahm heaps praise on German midfield duo

Bayern Munich is looking to avoid another David Alaba or Thiago Alcantara situation as they look to tie down Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka on long-term deals. The German duo has been pivotal to the club’s success this season.

After Thiago departed for Liverpool last summer, Flick had to rejig the midfield combination as the Spaniard was a key player for him during the treble-winning campaign. Leon Goretzka moved into the deeper midfield position and formed a solid partnership with his compatriot, Joshua Kimmich.

Both of them have been pivotal players for Die Roten this season. The value of these two players was truly known when the team struggled when each of them had a spell on the sidelines due to injury during the 2020/21 campaign.

Kimmich and Goretzka have been widely recognised as the two best midfield players in Germany this season. While talking to Bundesliga.com, former Die Roten captain Philipp Lahm heaped praise on the duo and insisted that they will play a pivotal role in the long-term success at the club.

"“Yes I think in the future they can really make their mark at Bayern. They’re German national-team players, have a lot of experience for their young years and have won a lot already so I can picture it. They really identify with the club and that’s really important. That’s something Basti and I had from a young age, we played for the Bayern youth team. It’s very important.”"

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Kimmich was initially considered as the long-term replacement of Lahm when he retired in 2017. He delivered two world-class campaigns in the right-back position, becoming one of the most productive full-backs in Europe. However, he always insisted that midfield is going to be his position in the long run.

After the arrival of Benjamin Pavard in 2019, Kimmich has established himself as one of the best midfield players in Europe. He has been largely deployed in the holding midfield role. His expansive passing range helped Die Roten to dominate the opposition in Germany and Europe last season. Moreover, he continued to chip in with goals from the midfield.

Meanwhile, Goretzka has also shown terrific growth at the club in the last three seasons. After arriving from FC Schalke in 2018, he played in the number ten role, providing goals and assists from the midfield. In the last 12 months, he has become a much more versatile midfielder by operating in numerous different roles. The German international provides physical prowess in the midfield and comes up with goals in big games.

The German midfield duo is yet to enter the peak years of their careers. As Lahm said, both of them connect with the club, so Die Roten must secure their futures. Kimmich’s current deal expires in 2023, while Goretzka has only one year left on his contract. They can spearhead Die Roten’s midfield for the next seven-eight years.