New quarantine threatens: FC Bayern has a Kimmich problem

Joshua Kimmich missed the final training of FC Bayern before the game against FC Augsburg (Friday evening from 8.30 p.m. live in the stern-Ticker and on “DAZN”). Coach Julian Nagelsmann described the absence as a “pure precautionary measure”. The reason is that the 26-year-old national player again had contact with a Covid 19 suspect. If the suspicion is confirmed, Kimmich would have to be in quarantine for the second time in quick succession for at least seven days. He would not only miss the Friday night game in the Bundesliga, but also the Champions League game against Dynamo Kiev next Tuesday. If Kimmich, who is currently waiting for the result of his PCR test, were himself positive, he would be out for at least two weeks.

Kimmich had only tested himself out of his first quarantine at the beginning of the week, just like Serge Gnabry, Jamal Musiala and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who can be used again in Augsburg. Like the other professionals, Kimmich was classified as a direct contact person for team mate Niklas Süle. Süle will still be absent in Augsburg due to Corona. Kingsley Coman will also fail in the opening game of the twelfth match day due to muscular complaints.

Julian Nagelsmann is visibly annoyed

Coach Nagelsmann left no doubt that the failure of unvaccinated players is also a disadvantage for the club and not only for the affected player himself. “That is a fact.” He already assumes that the unvaccinated players like Kimmich understand that the risk is greater for them to miss more games than vaccinated players who do not have to go into isolation as contact persons. Because the unvaccinated professionals could sometimes fail in top games such as at the beginning of December with the pursuer and title competitor Borussia Dortmund.

Kimmich is a key player in Nagelsmann’s team structure. It remains to be seen whether and how the current corona effects will affect his professional practice when it comes to vaccination. The number of infections is currently increasing massively in Germany and Europe, and life is becoming more difficult, especially for those who have not been vaccinated. “The numbers are a bit frightening. We notice it with us too,” said Nagelsmann. The 34-year-old was last infected himself despite the vaccination and missed four Bayern games because of the quarantine at home.

The avowed vaccination advocate Nagelsmann groaned on Thursday in his video press conference at some point: “The Corona issue annoys us all! We play against Augsburg and only talk about the pandemic!”

In addition, there are likely to be organizational problems with away games soon. The “kicker” writes that Bayern wanted to let the unvaccinated professionals (presumably Gnabry, Musiala, Choupo-Moting) arrive separately in the car for the game in Augsburg, while the vaccinated professionals are driven by bus and move to a day hotel. Because of the 2G rule in Bavaria, hotels are actually taboo for unvaccinated people. In this case, however, an exception rule applies for business travelers. But that could change on other away trips. For example, what happens to the unvaccinated players if Bayern visit Borussia Dortmund in two weeks? The plan is to rent an extra apartment for Kimmich & Co. But it also means that the Bayern bosses wanted to talk to those unwilling to vaccinate again on Thursday. We can look forward to the result.

Sources: DPA,,