Joshua Kimmich shares heartfelt message after heartbreaking loss just hours before Arsenal game
Bayern Munich have announced that Joshua Kimmich won’t be playing against Arsenal because of a death in his close family.
The German champions are hosting Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday night, but Kimmich will miss the game due to this personal loss. Reports say that his father, Berthold, passed away at 57, and Bayern confirmed this in a club statement.
Before the match, Kimmich didn’t attend training for personal reasons, which Bayern later explained was because of the family tragedy. The club asked everyone to respect Kimmich’s privacy during this difficult time and to avoid asking for more details.
The news comes just a week after Atletico Madrid’s captain Koke missed their Champions League game due to the sudden death of his mother.
Besides Kimmich, Bayern will also be without Michael Olise, who is banned for one match after a red card in their Champions League opener. Manager Vincent Kompany might miss the game too, as he’s dealing with a virus that’s causing leg pain.
Kompany’s assistant coach, Aaron Danks, said the virus has made it hard for Kompany to walk and rest is very important. “He’s a leader, so resting is tough for him. He’s at home now, and we’re staying in touch. We don’t know yet if he will be ready for the match,” Danks explained.
Everyone at Bayern is supporting Kimmich during this tough time.