JAKARTA - Joshua Kimmich, the star of Germany's national team, defended the accusation that his generation of age players, including Leon Goretzka, Leroy San\'e, and Serge Gnabry, were difficult to work with. In an interview with "S\"udddeutsche Zeitung", Kimmich said, "I don't believe we are a selfish generation. On the contrary, as I am today!"
Kimmich also mentioned that when he first joined Bayern M\"unchen nine years ago, there were more big egos in the dressing room than it is now, both at the club and national teams after the 2014 World Cup.
Kimmich moved to Bayern from RB Leipzig in 2015 at a cost of 8.5 million euros. At that time, players such as Jear fireme Boateng, Arturo Vidal, and Robert Lewandowski were still in the Bayern squad.
Last fall, the "kicker" magazine sparked accusations of egoism and questioned Kimmich's role as central midfielder. At Bayern, Kimmich played defensive midfielder while in the national team under coach Julian Nagelsmann, he played right-back.
"If someone asks me about my favorite position, I will answer: midfielder. However, discussions about the role of right-back come from outside and it often seems like it wants to create a commotion," said Kimmich.
Regarding his position as right-back, Kimmich said: "I don't at all see this role as relegation. My mentality, enthusiasm and approach have not changed due to this change of position."
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Kimmich thinks that outside noise often appears when the team doesn't win games or when there is instability, as happened in Bayern last season and in the national team since the 2018 World Cup.
Although there have been many changes in the national team, Kimmich has remained. "I've always been there, and I'm very proud of that. However, maybe that makes me often associated with the team's failure," he said.
Kimmich hopes this situation changes at Euro 2024, and initially very promising. In a 5-1 win against Scotland, Kimmich provided assists for the first goal. Tonight, the national team will face Hungary.
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