New No.6 Joshua Kimmich looking to define new era at Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich's new No.6 Joshua Kimmich says a new era is dawning at the record champions, and he is delighted to be part of it.
The record German champions have just wrapped up a second treble in their history, including an eighth consecutive Bundesliga crown and sixth UEFA Champions League crown.
Thoughts that they could be growing tired of being so successful could not be further from the truth, however, with Kimmich insisted their hunger for more titles is anything but on the fall.
Watch: Bayern's 2019/20 treble winners
"It's not like, although we've now won the Champions League, we now think we can take a breather since we've fulfilled our career objectives," Kimmich told the Süddeutsche Zeitung. "We want to prove that we belong at the very top permanently. We want to define an era, also with the national team.
"We're not sated, and the players who have been here the longest can also confirm that. When you're at Bayern Munich, you just want more and more. It never gets boring."
Despite being just 25, Kimmich can already count himself as one of those senior members of Bayern's squad. With five Bundesliga titles, three DFB Cups and the UEFA Champions League already adorning his home trophy cabinet, success has partnered him along his five-year path in Munich, since arriving from VfB Stuttgart.
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Team-mates Thomas Müller and David Alaba both have nine Bundesliga titles and two UEFA Champions Leagues, though, and that is more than enough reason for Kimmich to continue to see that high bar and aim even higher.
"We don't feel in any way accomplished," Kimmich said. "Now I know that, yes, titles are a great motivation, but you know what's an even better feeling? When you throw so much energy, passion and engagement into something and you notice it multiplying."
Since Hansi Flick took the Bayern reins in November, Kimmich feels this multiplication effect has grown and grown
Watch: Kimmich following in Lahm's footsteps
"I said it after the [Champions League] final – you really get the feeling that you're with your brothers here," he said. "We have a family on the field. Everybody gives everything for each other, and that's what it's all about at the end of the day.
"During my time at Bayern, there have also been successful phases when this feeling of togetherness was not so strong as it is now, and it just feels amazing."
That togetherness is intrinsic in the club's 'Mia san Mia' motto. Upon leaving Bayern for Liverpool on the opening day of the new Bundesliga season, Thiago Alcantara admitted it was a feeling he would never forget, and one which he will carry with him in his heart forever.
The Spaniard left behind countless positive memories in Munich, and a No6 shirt which Kimmich has wasted no time in adopting. He has, after all, adopted Thiago's number six position in the Bayern team, going from being one of the world's best full-backs to arguably the planet's best holding midfielder.
He seamlessly switched back to full-back to help Bayern lift the Champions League due to injuries to key players, although his position should once again be at the heart of the Bavarians' engine room in 2020/21.
Ideally, he says the loss of Thiago will be compensated for in the weeks to come, to ensure Bayern can go the distance once again this term. "We've already got a strong team, but I think we need to improve," he said. "We're going to have some extremely tough matches in the new season.
Watch: All of Kimmich's goals and assists in 2019/20
"We managed to cope last season with a smaller squad because we had some breaks – it felt like we had four pre-seasons. We always had the chance to recharge our batteries."
Those battery levels will be brimming again when Bayern host Schalke in the curtain-raiser of the 2020/21 Bundesliga season on Friday night, and if anybody still feels like doubting Bayern's hunger levels, just ask Kimmich what to expect.
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