‘An absolutely phenomenal player’: Jose Mourinho heaps praise on Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich and insists defender is among world’s best
- Joshua Kimmich has caught the eye of Jose Mourinho this season
- The Bayern Munich defender has played in a variety of positions for his club
- Kimmich was a star of the show as Bayern made the Champions League final
- Mourinho feels Kimmich should be spoken of as one of the world’s best players
Joshua Kimmich has been showered in praise by Jose Mourinho, who feels the ‘phenomenal’ Bayern Munich star must be spoken about in the same breath as the world’s best footballers.
Tottenham boss Mourinho has been watching Kimmich closely this season, as he has fulfilled a variety of different positions for Bayern on their way to the Champions League final.
Kimmich was a star of the show in the semi-finals against Lyon, and Mourinho feels the 25-year-old has the skill set to be anything he wants to be.
Joshua Kimmich has been a stand-out performer in Germany and European football this year
Jose Mourinho feels the ‘phenomenal’ 25-year-old is now among the best players in the world
Mourinho told DAZN of the German’s many attributes which impressed him, outlining: ‘I see him as a top right-back, left-back, centre-back, No.6, No.8, No.10… he has the qualities to be anything!
‘I think he looks to me, very intelligent related to football, very intelligent, understands the moments of the games and understands the difference between positions and understands what he has to do here and what he has to do there.
Kimmich had huge influence in the Barcelona tie and condemned the Spaniards to a heavy loss
‘I think he’s phenomenal, an absolutely phenomenal player.’
Kimmich looks set for a huge role as Bayern meet PSG in the Lisbon final on Sunday evening, as the Champions League finally comes to a conclusion following coronavirus postponement.
Guiding Bayern to their sixth European cup would undoubtedly raise the status of Kimmich even further, though Mourinho feels he is already up their among the biggest names in the game.
Kimmich was still playing for Leipzig the last time Bayern Munich won the Champions League
Asked if Kimmich should be seen as one of the best players in the world, Mourinho replied: ‘I think so. I’m a team coach and not an individual coach, for me, the team is much more important than the individuals.
‘For Bayern to win the Champions League is much more important than for somebody to win an individual award but I see this kid with [Robert] Lewandowski, [Manuel] Neuer, I see this kid with these guys in an elite group capable of winning individual awards.’