Joshua Kimmich returned to Bayern Munich duty for the first time since his father’s passing in October, but the midfielder quickly transitioned from one crisis to another as he watched three of his teammates leave the pitch with injuries. Team unity and staying fit are the two vital concerns for the 31-year-old as he helps the squad navigate this challenging period together

“It was obviously a very, very difficult week for me. I’m glad to be back on the pitch. It wasn’t easy, but during the game, you manage to forget about everything, at least for a little while. When you see the injuries we’ve suffered today, though, it reminds you that, ultimately, the most important thing is staying healthy. So, regardless of today’s result, I think it’s fair to say that we’re going through a difficult period at the moment, with everything that’s happening around the team and the coach, and now these injuries as well. And, of course, what I’ve personally been through, too. Now we’ll see what we’re made of as a team, and we need to stick together,” said Kimmich after the 2-2 tie against Borussia Dortmund (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).

Der Klassiker saw injuries to Michael Olise, Ismael Saibari, and Serge Gnabry, leaving Bayern razor-thin in attack with only Lennart Karl and Harry Kane as the remaining pure attackers. Alphonso Davies and Nathaniel Brown will be expected to slot into the remaining attacking positions until the injured players return.