Kimmich criticizes pitch in Berlin: „One single ploughing and ramming“ | OneFootball

Joshua Kimmich criticizes the pitch conditions at the Stadion an der Alten Försterei after FC Bayern’s cup match at Union Berlin

The pitch at Berlin’s Stadion an der Alten Försterei prevented a technically high-quality game in FC Bayern’s 3-2 win at Union and helped the home side’s play – that’s the opinion of Joshua Kimmich after the match

Kimmich said on ZDF: „Union’s game is clear, of course: lots of high and long balls. They also try to press man-to-man, you have to give them credit for that. The pitch suits them, of course.“

The captain of the German national team criticised: „It’s difficult to play three flat passes in a row. As a result, it becomes one big slog and scramble by all the players. The second half wasn’t quite as attractive to watch. Lots of duels, lots of set pieces, lots of corners. I don’t know what it looked like to a neutral spectator, but there wasn’t much of a playful element to it.“

Kimmich dreams of the cup final with FC Bayern

The win at Union saw coach Vincent Kompany’s side qualify for the quarter-finals for the first time since the 2022/23 season

It felt even longer for Kimmich, who said: „The last five or six years, we’ve always been out of the DFB Cup before the winter. So it was very important today that we made it. Our goal this year is to get back here to Berlin and today was a very important win.“

photo: IMAGO

The 30-year-old is now aiming for the final with Bayern – then in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium under more professional conditions: „I think it’s the most emotional game of the year if you can play in a final like this. We’re still a long way away from it now, but it’s still a goal you work towards. Because the atmosphere is already outstanding and this event is really great, you want to be there!“