Harry Kane and Joshua Kimmich impressed with Luis Diaz’s Bayern Munich debut | OneFootball

New Bayern Munich signing Luis Diaz has already had a chance to make his first appearance for his Bundesliga club. The former Liverpool attacker logged 45 minutes as a substitute in Bayern’s Saturday pre-season friendly against Olympique Lyon. It did not take long for the 28-year-old to get his name on the scoresheet. Diaz recorded an assist on Michael Olise’s 1-1 in the 53rd minute by drawing a penalty. Diaz himself produced three efforts on goal.

Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund, lead striker Harry Kane, and squad vice captain Joshua Kimmich have had a chance to comment on the Colombian. Freund found himself answering questions about whether – in light of Diaz’s work on the wing opposite the ultra-talented Michael Olise – whether Bayern have finally found a new version of the famous Arjen Robben-Franck Ribbery partnership

“He looked very fresh,” Freund remarked in the mixed zone. “He got three big chances in. He’s gotten stuck in well. From the very start, one’s sensed his joy. He’s here to have fun. His interest in FC Bayern is noticeable.

“He’s a very intense and industrious player,” Freund continued. “He’s very mature and speedy. He’s an absolute team player who’s very dangerous in front of goal. We can expect lots of scorer points [goals and assists] from him.

“Regardless of whom we talked about him with at Liverpool, everyone agreed he was an absolute team player,” Freund concluded. “He fits the profile of the player we’re looking for.“

“We always say, ‘don’t believe the hype or the drama’,” Freund later stated when asked about a potential “Robbery Revival”. “Let’s keep things grounded. Michael [Olise] has been here for a year. Luis Diaz is a top quality player who has achieved a lot. I’m looking forward to what’s to come.“

“I’ve already noticed on the training pitch that he really likes football,” Kimmich noted in his own mixed zone interview. “He always has a smile on his face. He likes to come to training irrespective of which team he’s playing for.

“He really enjoys football and that’s precisely what we need,” Kimmich continued. “He likes to work even when it hurts. He has an intensity about him, though he could have scored today.”

“I think Thomas [Müller] had issues [helping integrating players],” Kimmich answered when asked – without Müller – who would be the leading figure helping to integrate Diaz into the team. “We have a few who speak Spanish. I think it’ll be fine. We’ll get it done.“

Diaz’s former Premier League colleague Kane didn’t think that Bayern would have to fall back on Spanish speakers, noting that four years spent at Liverpool had ensured that Diaz’s English was “okay“.

Kane had more to add.

“I think he did well today,” Kane said. “We’re really going to need him this season. I’m happy to have him. As a striker, you enjoy playing with players like that. I thought he was very effective during his time at Liverpool. He can make the difference. I think he’ll contribute here.“

GGFN | Peter Weis