On September 3, Beijing time, Germany's new captain Kimmich expressed his views on a number of topics at a press conference, including his feelings about becoming captain, his relationship with vice-captains Rüdiger and Havertz, his assessment of the young players, his evaluation of Ter Stegen, the role model role of the former captains, his own position in the national team, and his outlook for future matches.
Speaking about being made captain of Germany, Kimmich couldn't hide his pride, saying, "It's a huge honor for me and I'm very proud. As a kid, I dreamed of playing for the national team, but becoming captain is something I never dared to hope for. It makes me feel special because I have everyone's trust. Being the captain doesn't mean singing a solo role, it takes the whole team."
For vice-captains Rüdiger and Havertz, Kimmich said he has a good relationship with them and spoke highly of their professionalism and team spirit. He particularly mentioned Havertz's low profile and thoroughness as an indispensable part of the team.
Commenting on young players Stiller and Pavlovic, Kimmich praised them for their technical excellence and fearlessness and expects them to contribute more to the German team in the future.
Regarding the new No. 1 goalkeeper Ter Stegen, Kimmich said that he has been a great performer over the years and is happy for him to be the No. 1 goalkeeper for Germany. He specifically mentioned Ter Stegen's experience as captain of FC Barcelona as an honor and inspiration for the German player.
Speaking about the role models of the former captains, Kimmich said he would be inspired by them and try to interpret the role of captain in his own way. He also mentioned the impact of the team structure on each individual and emphasized the need to be able to cope individually in a given situation.
Regarding his position in the national team, Kimmich said that he has the ability to play both positions, which helps him a lot. He wants to continue to contribute to the team and wants to end the discussion about his position as soon as possible.
Finally, when looking ahead to future matches, Kimmich said that he would like to play both the Club World Cup and the UEFA Nations League. He specifically mentioned that the UEFA Nations League is more important to him as it is a competition for trophies rather than friendlies. In addition, he also revealed the time of Germany's next match against Hungary in the UEFA A League, which will be on September 8 at 2:45 am BST.
