Joshua Kimmich refuses to focus on Neuer’s red card and subsequent elimination from the DFB-Pokal, saying, “The red card is no excuse.”

Bayern Munich’s 1-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen in the third round of the DFB-Pokal was excruciating and continued an aggravating trend of the Bavarians getting knocked out early in the competition. This time, Bayern comes away with more credit than in the other early knockouts, having had to battle with 10 men for over 70 minutes against the reigning champions after Manuel Neuer’s red card.

But Bayern’s midfield maestro Joshua Kimmich refuses to see the dismissal as an excuse for the loss.

“The red card wasn’t the crucial point and it’s no excuse,” Joshua Kimmichasserts, via @iMiaSanMia. “Manu has saved us many times. We couldn’t have been much better or more dominant even with 11 men. We didn’t take our chances, especially from set pieces, and we didn’t defend the box properly in the goal situation. If you look at our performance, we can’t blame ourselves for much, apart from the fact we didn’t convert our chances, but that doesn’t change anything now.”

No, it does not change anything. Following the confirmation that Bayern’s DFB-Pokal drought will now reach five years, it utterly crucial that the team pushes this loss to the their minds and ensure that they do not start a winless run, starting with a win against Heidenheim in the Bundesliga.

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