According to Constantin Eckner, Joshua Kimmich has been ruled out for the rest of the year. The Bayern Munich midfielder tore his meniscus during the match against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, forcing him to be subbed off in the second half.
Josh Kimmich tore his meniscus. He will be out for at least the rest of the year. Bad news for #FCBayern, but they should be able to get by without him for a while.
— Dr. Constantin Eckner (@cc_eckner) November 8, 2020
The injury should serve as a massive blow for Hansi Flick, but here at The 4th Official, we will take a look at three players who can replace Kimmich at Bayern Munich right now.
Marc Roca
Marc Roca is the most natural replacement for Kimmich from a tactical perspective as the two players are quite adept in passing the ball and are capable of providing defensive solidity to the table.
Although Roca isn’t as proactive and inspiring in the middle of the park as his German teammate, the ex-Espanyol star is blessed with a great deal of technical sense that allows him to dominate the game during the possession phases. He also has a strong understanding of the positional play and his more conservative style of play should combine well alongside the more robust nature of Leon Goretzka.
Unfortunately, Roca has not been used often by Flick this season, so the Spaniard will need to first settle himself in the Bundesliga before he can become a premier replacement for Kimmich in the holding midfield slot.
Javi Martinez
Javi Martinez is currently the most experienced option Bayern have in their armoury. He is also one of the oldest members in the team, having joined the club back in 2012.
Although Martinez was expected to leave Allianz Arena in the summer, the Spaniard ended up remaining in Bavaria and has been quite useful for Flick as well. He has already appeared in 11 matches in all competitions, often proving to be vital to the coach’s rotation policy.
Stylistically, Martinez is quite similar to Roca, boasting immense passing skills while his experience is always a bonus for any team. However, the 32-year-old’s lack of pace could be an issue for the Bavarians.
Corentin Tolisso
Corentin Tolisso is most likely the short-term replacement for injured Kimmich as the Frenchman has not only been a key member of the Bayern side this season but has also been in great form. He seems to have benefitted from the departure of Thiago.
However, with Kimmich ruled out, the ex-Lyon star may have to operate in a more defensive role. It is a position where the midfielder hasn’t historically fared well at FC Bayern. But for a professional like him, it is always going to be a fascinating challenge and given the current form, Tolisso is indeed the best option for Flick, as far as finding an immediate fix in the holding midfield role is concerned.
