Bayern's Joshua Kimmich less emotional but calmer in fan-free games

changed routines and rhythms around matches have been startling for Joshua Kimmich. Playing for Bayern Munich in vast, empty stiums has affected t just spectacle or lack of but game itself in coronavirus era. "rmally you have more renaline and more tension inside your body when you walk in and see 80,000 fans," Kimmich said in a video call.  "Nearly everything has changed." +

Kimmich less emotional in fan-free games

silence reminds Kimmich of playing in youth leagues. supportive screams  and heckles  from crowd are absent. only chants are heard by viewers at home, inserted from archives over live feeds.

"You have to push yourself, push your teammates, you have to be focused and more concentrated,"Kimmich said. 

"rmally when re are fans you are focused just because of that, because you kw when you're going to make a mistake, everybody is like, 'Whoa,' you feel this mistake more. Also, you feel more if you score a goal. It's more emotional when re are fans." 

That isn't always beneficial for match officials. "I can feel that I am less emotional when I speak to referee," Kimmich said.  "When y are loud and y are screaming you get pushed and you are more emotional and maybe you speak in ar way with referee. "w you can be more quiet and calm and speak in a rmal way with referee and you don't have to shout at him and he doesn't have to shout back." 

Communication within team has also improved since Bundesliga resumed last month with pandemic safety precautions preventing fans from attending.

" stium is always full at Bayern and it's really amazing," Kimmich said. 

"This is maybe what I miss most but positive thing is you can speak to everybody and maybe focus is more on game. It's t like a show. Also, re is more big show from players any more  lying on ground and screaming. It's more focused on game."

pick of goals since restart came from boot of Kimmich, a chip from outside penalty area  away at Borussia Dortmund. It sealed win in Bayern's biggest away game of season. "Especially against Dortmund, re is always a great atmosphere," Kimmich said.  "( crowds mean) it's more a disvant for home team than for us."   Winning on ro is thing unusual for defending champions. y won five in a row, stretching into December, before league was paused. Since restart, Bayern has won all four games  half away  to move seven points clear at top of Bundesliga. For some teams losing home vant is more unexpected, when it isn't a powerhouse like Bayern visiting. Only 22 per cent of games -- eight -- have been won at home since resumption, a slump from 40 per cent before coronavirus-enforced break.

German teams with a reputation for passionate home fans are struggling more than most. Cologne and Union Berlin, who have modest budgets but a reputation for overwhelming visiting opponents in a cauldron of ise, are four games without a win. Kimmich has alrey played four times in two weeks, an overall concern by international players' union FIFPRO about increased risk of injuries. FIFPRO warned burden on players' bodies to complete season is intense. Kimmich said he's holding up, so far.

"( restart) was OK for us, because it was like a third preseason," he said.

"We worked a lot, first at home with cyber-training and after in smaller groups, n with whole team. w we have benefit of it. games were really good for us, I think we played good, we h good results, and also physical factor is really important for us." 

But re has been a higher rate of injuries across Bundesliga compared to earlier in season, although many have been relatively light cases of muscle strains or bruising, rar than anything requiring months of treatment. Dortmund's title challenge has been hampered by a wave of mir injuries to players who would usually be in starting lineup. Forward Jon Sancho and defensive midfielder Emre Can were unable to start 1-0 defeat to Bayern. "We don't have (any) muscle injuries," Kimmich said.  "But it could be a problem in future, when new season starts, because we won't get a long holiday." 

To end of year, teams can use five substitutes, two more than are usually allowed in 90 minutes. It provides coaches with more flexibility with ir tactics and ability to rotate squs to keep players fresh. main medical checks, though, are ensuring players are t spreing coronavirus. That means wearing face masks around hotels and on drive to stiums. y also sit apart for meals and are tested for COVID-19 every few days. "As a club we kw that we are all responsible for each or so we have to follow distancing," Kimmich said.  "For us it is really safe. Here in Germany we are role model for or countries." 

Bundesliga was first major league to resume in Europe. England, Italy and Spain are due to follow but France abandoned its season in April. "t everybody thinks that it's good football is coming back," Kimmich said.  "But system is good. downside will be party in Munich's main square if an eighth successive title is clinched. "This year we have to drink all beer," Kimmich said.  "It is strange, of course. It is better to win it with fans, but we don't have choice w."