Victory at the inaugural Djibouti International Half-Marathon gives Olympic champion a successful start to Olympic year

Mo Farah got his 2021 racing schedule off to a winning start after taking victory in the inaugural Djibouti International Half-Marathon.

Racing for the first time since winning the Antrim Coast Half Marathon six months ago, the 10-time global gold medallist had returned to the country from which he moved to Britain at the age of eight.

Now 37, Farah had been keen to test himself again following a training block at his camp in Ethiopia, explaining in an exclusive interview with AW prior to the race how he was “fired up” for a year in which his main focus will be the defence of his 10,000m Olympic title in Tokyo.

In temperatures of 28 degrees centigrade, he got the win he was looking for, clocking a time of 63:07 to take the victory by just four seconds.

READ MORE: Exclusive: Mo Farah “fired up” ahead of half-marathon test

His training partner Bashir Abdi, who set a world 20km record in the same Brussels track event where Farah broke the one-hour mark in September, was his main challenger and followed him home almost a minute clear of third-placed local athlete Moumin Bouh.

Sweden’s David Nilsson (64:06) and the Djiboutian duo of Jamal Dirieh (64:22) and Mouhyadin Abdi Waisss completed the top six.

SEEKONK, Mass. – Whether it’s been as a crew chief, spotter, driver, mechanic or in another role, Cam McDermott has built quite the resume in short-track racing.

He started his career driving in quarter midgets, quickly moved to the Thompson Speedway Modified division, where he won the championship – and from there, his career has blossomed in a variety of different directions.

For 2021, McDermott is going to be quite the busy guy once again – but his preparations for the season includes getting the No. 8 Maybury Material Handling machine ready for competition in the six Tri Track Open Modified Series events. McDermott will be behind the wheel of the family-owned machine to join a talent-filled group of competitors on the Tri Track circuit.

“We’re mainly going to focus on the Tri Track stuff this year, transitioning into that after focusing on the Stafford Motor Speedway Open Modified races the last few years,” McDermott said. “The competition with Tri Track is always great. I want to go out there and compete against the best – I love doing that. On the ownership side of Tri Track, with what Wayne (Darling) and Ed (Bennett) are doing, it’s good for the racers and the teams.”

Outside of driving, McDermott will be working as crew chief for Eddie Harvey Racing on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, with his close friend Woody Pitkat, driving. McDermott is ready to tackle that role after more than a decade working with the legendary Pasteryak family, where he recently was the crew chief for Chris Pasteryak.

Back when McDermott was winning races and a championship in the Thompson Modifieds, McDermott was connected with the Pasteryak family, started helping Carl on his car, and from there, became a major part of the operation.

During the last decade, he says he completed just about every job there is on a Modified race team, minus maybe being the jackman or gasman on a pit stop. He also has experience working with Woody Pitkat in Pitkat’s championship run at Stafford Motor Speedway, and when Pitkat was competing for Buzz Chew Racing on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour as a spotter.

McDermott’s driving experience also includes competing in the Lite Modified division at Thompson, where he was the champion, and at Stafford Motor Speedway, where he competed in the SK Light Modifieds and their premier SK Modified division.

And that’s just scratching the surface of his resume.

“It just grew from the Thompson Modified days and it got better and better,” McDermott said of his relationship with the Pasteryak family. “They are just a great family to be around. Between the Pasteryak family and my dad, I’ve learned everything I know about racing from them. The Pasteryak’s pay attention to every single detail. It’s such a great atmosphere to be able to learn from them and now transition it into my own car. I’ve been able to take everything I’ve learned and just put it into what’s best for me.”

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OSWEGO, N.Y. – As a year and a half long offseason filled with uncertainty finally makes its way out the door, Oswego Speedway has kicked preparation for its 70th Anniversary season into high gear amidst the loosening of state COVID-19 restrictions.

After losing the entire 2020 season due to the pandemic, Oswego Speedway management has put together what is perhaps the most diverse, and certainly the most aggressive schedule of this decade, headlined by two Classic Weekends and appearances by 10 different divisions.

“It has been a long couple of winters, and we’re very excited to begin preparation for what will be a huge 2021 season,” said track owner John Torrese. “We have what we think is one of our best schedules in a long time and really look forward to seeing cars on the race track and fans back in the grandstands.”

The Speedway’s 70th Anniversary Celebration begins on Saturday, May 8, marking the earliest start to an Oswego Speedway season since 2012.

Back to back championship events for the Novelis Supermodifieds, Pathfinder Bank SBS, and J&S Paving 350 Supermodifieds on the 8th and 15th of May will allow competitors to knock the rust off prior to the rescheduled 64th Budweiser Classic Weekend slated for May 27-29.

Classic Weekend 64 Open Practice will be held Thursday, May 27, with Pole Day time trials for the Novelis Supermodifieds, Pathfinder Bank SBS, and J&S Paving 350 Supers penciled in for Friday, May 28.

Headlining Friday’s program is the 50-lap Season Opening event for the Sunoco New York Super Stock Tour, as well as the debut of the new New York State Compact Championship, which will hold its inaugural event at the Oswego Speedway.

To cap off Memorial Day Weekend, the 64th running of the Budweiser International Classic 200 for Novelis Supermodifieds, 29th running of the Bud Classic 75 for Pathfinder Bank SBS, and 3rd running of the Classic 50 for J&S Paving 350 Supers will all go green on Saturday, May 29.

The conclusion to Classic Weekend 64; the 200-lap Classic for big block supers, will take the green flag under the lights.

It is anticipated that in-person attendance will be permitted for the Season Opener as well as the remainder of the season.

Check below for the full Oswego Speedway Schedule of Events:

Saturday, May 1 – Open Practice (ALL 2020 Divisions)

Saturday, May 8 – 70th Season Opener – Novelis Supermodifieds (50), Pathfinder Bank SBS (30), J&S Paving 350 Supers (25)

Saturday, May 15 – Weekly Program – Novelis Supermodifieds (50), Pathfinder Bank SBS (30), J&S Paving 350 Supers (25)

Saturday, May 22 – OFF or Rain Date for May 8 or May 15

CLASSIC WEEKEND 64

Thursday, May 27 – Classic Open Practice

Friday, May 28 – ‘POLE DAY’ – Novelis Supermodified, Pathfinder Bank SBS, and J&S Paving 350 Supers Time Trials, Sunoco New York Super Stocks (50), New York State Compact Championship

Saturday, May 29 – 64TH ANNUAL CLASSIC SATURDAY – 64th Budweiser International Classic for Novelis Supermodifieds (200), 29th Bud Classic for Pathfinder Bank SBS (75), 3rd J&S Paving 350 Super Classic (50) plus Consolation Events

Saturday, June 5 – OFF

Saturday, June 12 – NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (150), Novelis Supermodifieds (50)

Saturday, June 19 – Novelis Supermodified Twins (35), Pathfinder Bank SBS (30), J&S Paving 350 Supers (25)

Saturday, June 26 – OFF / High School Graduation

Saturday, July 3 – Novelis Supermodified Jim Shampine Memorial (75), Pathfinder Bank SBS Tony White Memorial (35), J&S Paving 350 Supers (30), Sportsman Modified XMR (40)

Saturday, July 10 – Novelis Supermodifieds (50), Pathfinder Bank SBS Twins (20)

Saturday, July 17 – 34th Annual $10,000 to Win Mr. Novelis Supermodified (75), 29th Annual $1,500 to Win Mr. Pathfinder Bank SBS, $2,000 to Win 350 Supers (30)

Saturday, July 24 – OFF / Hy-Miler / Harborfest

Saturday, July 31 – Jack Murphy Memorial ISMA / MSS Kings of Wings X (60), J&S Paving 350 Supermodifieds (30)

Saturday, August 7 – ‘Retro Night’ – Novelis Supermodifieds (45), Pathfinder Bank SBS (30), J&S Paving 350 Supers (25) plus Old Timer’s Reunion

Saturday, August 14 – Novelis Supermodifieds (50), Pathfinder Bank SBS (30), Sunoco New York Super Stocks (30)

Saturday, August 21 – Track Championship Night – Novelis Supermodifieds (50), Pathfinder Bank SBS (30), J&S Paving 350 Supers (25)

CLASSIC WEEKEND 65

Friday, September 3 – ‘POLE DAY’ –  Novelis Supermodified, Pathfinder Bank SBS, and J&S Paving 350 Supers Time Trials, Sunoco New York Super Stocks Dave London Memorial XII (75)

Saturday, September 4 – 65TH ANNUAL CLASSIC SATURDAY – NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Mod Classic (150), NEMA and NEMA Lites, Midwest Sport Compact Touring Series

Sunday, September 5 – 65TH ANNUAL CLASSIC SUNDAY – 65th Budweiser International Classic for Novelis Supermodifieds (200), 30th Bud Classic for Pathfinder Bank SBS (75), 4th J&S Paving 350 Super Classic (50) plus Consolation Events

October 6 to 10 – NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week XLIX

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Loris Hezemans, the 2019 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series champion, will return to the NASCAR Xfinity Series this year for two events with Reaume Brothers Racing.

The No. 13 Reaume Brothers Racing Chevrolet Camaro entry will carry sponsorship from Hezeberg Systems.

The 23-year-old will race at the Phoenix Raceway on March 13 and at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 29. The Call 811 Before You Dig 200 presented by Arizona 811 at Phoenix will mark Hezemans’ oval racing debut in the NASCAR Xfinity Series after the six-time NASCAR Whelen Euro Series race winner finished 22nd at Road America in his first outing in 2019.

“I am very excited to announce that I will be joining Reaume Brothers Racing for the Nascar Xfinity Series at Phoenix on March 13,” said Hezemans. “My number one priority for this race weekend is to bring the car home and gain as much experience as possible. Without any practice or qualifying the learning curve will be a big step but I am fully up for the challenge. With this experience in Phoenix I hope to continue to progress through the different size oval tracks throughout the year”.

While the Dutchman and his partners are at work to expand the American campaign, the clear goal for his two confirmed races is to accumulate miles and experience to obtain NASCAR’s approval to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series in the future.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Officials from TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold announced Friday the streaming service will broadcast the Daytona 200 motorcycle race at the Daytona Road Course live at 1 p.m. ET on March 13 exclusively on the streaming platform’s Progressive American Flat Track Pass.

The event kicks off a doubleheader of motorcycle racing on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold that is capped off by the Progressive American Flat Track Race at the Volusia Half-Mile at 7 p.m. ET.

Sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Ass’n (AMA) and operated by the American Sportbike Racing Ass’n (ASRA), the 57-lap, 200-mile race showcases 600cc sportbikes at Daytona Int’l Speedway’s famed 3.51-mile road course.

Four-time Daytona 200 champion Danny Eslick will attempt to become the third five-race winner in the history of the event, while Kyle Wyman will try to defend his 2019 victory. The 2020 race was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year’s event features a stacked field bolstered by international racers flocking to Daytona since several European contests have been cancelled due to COVID-19. Notably, 19-race Isle of Man TT winner Michael Dunlop of Ireland heads stateside to test his talents at The World Center of Racing.

The Daytona 200 is available to TrackPass users with either the Progressive American Flat Track pass ($1.99/month) or the TrackPass: All Access pass ($4.99), which includes all live events from Progressive American Flat Track, ARCA Menards Series, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NASCAR Pinty’s Series and IMSA.

After the Daytona 200, TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold transitions from two-wheel road course action to motorcycle dirt racing for the Progressive American Flat Track contest at the Volusia Half-Mile. It marks the second Progressive AFT race of 2021, following Friday’s season opener at the Volusia Half-Mile (also 7 p.m. ET).

Brian Baumann starts the season in the hunt for his third straight Progressive AFT Championship.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Mopar and Dodge//SRT performance brands are bolstering their relationship with the National Hot Rod Ass’n as the series gets set to celebrate 70 years of drag-racing history.

The two partnering brands will expand their support of the premier drag-racing series to include the title sponsorship of the Dodge//SRT U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, the 68th edition of the NHRA’s prestigious cornerstone event.

“We’re excited and honored to have Dodge//SRT expand their ongoing support of our series, competitors and fans with the addition of title sponsorship of our most prestigious event during our 70th anniversary season, the newly named Dodge//SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals,” said Glen Cromwell, NHRA President. “It is a testament to their decades-long commitment to both motorsports and automotive enthusiasts to have Dodge//SRT and Mopar remain an intricate part of the fabric that makes up our history.”

Mopar and Dodge//SRT brands are also extending their title sponsorship support of national events at Bandimere Speedway in Denver, the longest running sponsorship in NHRA and one of longest in all of motorsports, and Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania, while reprising their sponsorship of the Houston and Las Vegas races.

“The performance legacy of Dodge and SRT is forever intertwined with the NHRA and taking on title sponsorship of the U.S. Nationals further enhances that connection to our roots,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge Brand Chief Executive Officer – Stellantis. “If there’s one thing Dodge//SRT performance-car customers have in common, it’s a passion for the feeling you get when you experience NHRA racing for yourself. We try to build a part of that experience into every Dodge//SRT Hellcat Charger, Challenger and Durango you can buy.

“NHRA drag racing is a great example of how on-track performance is translated by our engineers to the benefit of our Dodge//SRT performance vehicles,” added Kuniskis. “Dodge literally sells the same cars you’ll see racing in the NHRA’s Sportsman classes. And much of what we learn in the series’ premier classes finds its way into our Dodge//SRT Chargers, Challengers and Durangos.”

“As the ultimate exhibition of horsepower for passionate motorsports enthusiasts, NHRA drag racing is the perfect place to showcase the Mopar brand,” said Mark Bosanac, North America Vice President, Mopar Service, Parts & Customer Care. “As the defending NHRA Funny Car world champions, we look forward to adding to our extensive list of accomplishments and wins. In addition, we are pleased to announce that Mopar Express Lane will return as the title sponsor for the national race event in Reading that kicks off the NHRA Countdown to the Championship.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has denied Manchester United are having a crisis of confidence despite going three games without a goal.

United have warmed up for Sunday's derby with Manchester City with three consecutive 0-0 draws, including a disappointing stalemate against Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

City, meanwhile, have managed to open up a 14-point lead at the top of the Premier League table as United have managed just two wins from their last eight league games but Solskjaer insists his team are not out of form.

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"We had a week without scoring a goal," Solskjaer told a news conference on Friday.

"It's not like six weeks with bad form. Not long we won 9-0 [against Southampton], 4-0 against a Real Sociedad team that should have won against Real Madrid at the weekend.

"I'm not buying into the narrative we've had such a dip in form. We've not had margins. Three 0-0s isn't us and it's not what we set out to do. We've defended well but lacked that spark to score. I don't buy the out of form one."

Solskjaer has also argued United have tried to play "on the front foot" in big games this season despite heading into the Manchester derby still searching for their first win against a top six side.

Last season, United scored 15 goals and collected 18 points from 10 games against Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham. But ahead of the trip to the Etihad Stadium, their record this season stands at one goal and five points from seven matches, including five 0-0 draws.

"We've looked at it and in a strange sort of way, you might not agree, we've been more positive [this season]," Solskjaer said.

"We've been going high press on the front foot, trying to pin teams back. Last year maybe we relied more on the counter-attack, dropped deep and hung on. As a coach and manager it's the worst feeling ever to be defending around the box. We've tried to go more positive but we've not been clinical or ruthless enough with chances. We have had chances."

Dean Henderson is set to start in goal against City after No.1 David De Gea was given permission to attend the birth of his child in Spain. De Gea will be given time before returning to Englan dut Solskjaer says he expects the goalkeeper to be back "very soon".

"I'll give him the time he needs before he comes back, he asked to go home and in the old world that's a day and you come back and you're ready again and now we're in a pandemic and the quarantines of course it's a different world but still we felt it was right," Solskjaer added.

"Dean came in [against Crystal Palace] and played well and he's ready so I'll give David the time he needs.

"As soon as David travels back we just have to follow the rules. Yeah, I expect him to be available very soon, not too far. I don't know when he'll be back, it won't be long before he comes.

"Dean did well against Palace and I'm sure he's looking forward to the City game as well, he's had that experience already this season in the Carabao Cup so that stands him in good stead."

Juventus boss Andrea Pirlo has warned Weston McKennie that joining the Serie A champions on a permanent deal is just the start and does not mean the United States Men's National Team international has "made it."

McKennie moved to Juve on loan from Schalke with the option to make the deal permanent for €18.5 million, which the Serie A champions took up on Wednesday.

- Notebook: Breaking down top clubs' hopes of signing Haaland

But Pirlo said the move should be seen as a sign of faith in the 22-year-old but that the midfielder still has work to do.

"We chose him because of his characteristics," Pirlo said of McKennie,"We have been following him since he was at Schalke so we new of his ability.

"Now the deal being made permanent must be seen as a starting point, because if he thinks he's made it it's not the right way for him to go forward."

Juve have faced criticism this season as they lie third in Serie A -- a competition they have won in each of the last eight seasons -- and are only two points above fifth-place AS Roma, while leaders Internazionale are 10 points ahead, having played a game more.

However, despite dropping points on Saturday following a 1-1 draw against Verona and Inter winning their sixth consecutive league match in midweek, Pirlo said Juve will continue to focus on the title race.

"[The situation] is just like last week," Pirlo said ahead of Saturday's match with Lazio (at 2.45 p.m. ET, live on ESPN+). "If they [Inter] win every Sunday, they will win the title. If not, we are ready to capitalise on any mistakes."

Despite criticism of their league position, Pirlo was quick to point out that his side remain fighting on three fronts.

"We are still fighting for the title and Champions League and in the Coppa Italia final," he added. "While there is hope, we will fight. Then if others don't make any mistakes, we will congratulate them at the end of the season."

Major League Soccer announced it is investigating Inter Miami's signing of midfielder Blaise Matuidi.

The France international joined Inter Miami on a free transfer in August 2020 after three seasons at Serie A side Juventus and signed as a targeted allocation money player rather than a designated professional, which caused some surprise at the time.

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"Major League Soccer has begun a formal review of Inter Miami CF's signing of midfielder Blaise Matuidi, specifically investigating whether the signing of the player complied with Major League Soccer's salary budget and roster guidelines," a league statement read.

"MLS will not make further comment until the completion of its investigation."

The club responded with a statement that read: "Inter Miami CF acknowledges the statement made by Major League Soccer today, and we look forward to fully engaging with the league's review process. We will have no further comment."

Inter Miami are part owned by former Manchester United and LA Galaxy midfielder David Beckham.

Der Klassiker is the biggest match in the Bundesliga. Bayern Munich are one of the grand clubs of Europe, rattling off eight straight Bundesliga titles while Borussia Dortmund are the club usually trying to track them down. When the pair face off this Saturday (12:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+), there's a lot at stake.

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It had all looked as if Bayern were running away with their ninth consecutive title until mid-February. But then, in two games, they dropped five points against Arminia Bielefeld and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Dortmund could help topple them from the top of the table with a win, but if they pull it off, another club will benefit as RB Leipzig are two points behind Bayern and ready to pounce. Unfortunately for BVB and their passionate support, Dortmund are in fifth, 13 points off the top after a turbulent season which has seen coach Lucien Favre leave in December and Edin Terzic take over on an interim basis.

In other words, expect fireworks.

BVB have some of the most exciting young players in football, Erling Haaland, Jadon Sancho and Giovanni Reyna amongst others, but Bayern Munich still have the bulk of their treble-winning contingent from last season: including Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer, Serge Gnabry, David Alaba, Alphonso Davies -- and Joshua Kimmich.

Bayern have a habit of hoovering up the Bundesliga's best talent (Leon Goretzka, Gnabry, Niklas Sule) from their immediate rivals and have even plundered BVB in the past for the likes of Lewandowski, Mats Hummels (who's since gone back to Dortmund) and Mario Gotze. Like we said, fireworks.

Last season's meeting in June in Dortmund was as tense as ever, even without fans. Borussia Dortmund were on a six-game winning streak, and four points behind Bayern Munich, with seven matches left in the 2019-20 season. Dortmund's home, the Westfalenstadion was empty. It had been a tense affair -- neither Haaland nor Lewandowski had managed to get on the scoresheet. Dortmund were matching Bayern in most areas, but still the game needed the breakthrough.

After 43 minutes on that evening, some neat interplay saw the ball at Kimmich's feet. Bayern's defensive midfielder took a light touch and another to set himself. It all looked a little scattered -- they'd nearly lost the ball to Haaland a couple of touches back, only for Kimmich to win it -- but 20 yards out, Kimmich knew exactly what he had planned.

"I always try to find the solution before I receive the ball," he tells ESPN. "Afterwards, I have to control it and to pass it. But when you know before where you want to play then all the things went faster."

He'd done his research and knew Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Burki was going to be a step or two off his line.

"I had to try something special -- Maybe it was a surprise for the goalkeeper," Kimmich says.

Without looking up, Kimmich floated this most delightful of delicate chips over Burki, and despite the Swiss goalkeeper getting a hand on it, the ball fell into the net. It proved to be the winning goal, and Bayern stretched their lead atop the Bundesliga to what proved to be an unassailable seven points.

"It was a bit lucky," Kimmich says, laughing at the memory.

Bayern would push on from there and would win a remarkable six titles -- Bundesliga, DFB Pokal-Cup, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, German Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. At the centre of it all was Kimmich.

He lacks the name recognition and may never grace the cover of FIFA, but he's arguably the most important player in the Bayern team this season, in his own industrious way. He's good at just about everything. Out of all midfielders in the Bundesliga this season (minimum: 500 minutes played) he leads the standings for touches of the ball (per 90: 101.7), passes (77.7) , and sits second for xA (0.37 per 90). Though he's won everything in Germany, he and the club still want more.

"We conquered [last season] but now we have to focus on the titles which will come," Kimmich says. "It's nice to want these titles but in football, the future will come, and you have to repeat and confirm."

This unwavering focus is why he's called the "mentality monster" by his manager Hansi Flick. Kimmich is now one of the world's best players, but rewind six years, and Bayern's interest in Kimmich was so bewildering to the then 19-year-old he asked the club why they wanted to sign him.

"I thought they could sign every midfielder, or every player in the world. Why would they want me?" he pondered.

KIMMICH REMEMBERS HIS FIRST MEETINGS WITH PEP GUARDIOLA, then-manager of Bayern, after the club announced his signing from Leipzig on Jan. 2, 2015.

"The first conversation was this -- I asked them why they wanted to sign me, and what they see in me. He showed me everything on the tactical map. It was amazing for me -- he showed me some positions I could play, that I didn't know I could play. I was like... woah... okay. When I worked with him more than just one hour, he showed me a lot. It was an amazing start."

Unbeknownst to Kimmich, Guardiola had been in the stands, enthralled, when the midfielder lined up for RB Leipzig against 1860 Munich on August 10, 2014.

"[Guardiola] called me straight away and said: 'super player, we must take care of this immediately,'" Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in 2015.

It mirrored the way Leipzig had scouted Kimmich at his previous club, VfB Stuttgart. Alexander Zorninger, then the Leipzig manager, was on a scouting mission at a Stuttgart U19 match, watching another player, but it was Kimmich who caught his eye -- the intensity, the running between the lines and how the ball gravitated towards him. Those at Leipzig remember the conversations: they hoped to keep him, having signed him on a two-year loan from Stuttgart.

But then came Bayern and Guardiola -- no player in Germany could ignore those advances. The young Kimmich was ambitious -- he wanted to play among older players when he left Stuttgart for Leipzig. But he arrived injured and it took months for him to settle. Senior players would see him work, hungry to finally get out there.

"Us guys thought what's that kid doing here? Well: He put in extra shifts. He was the first at the ground, working out in the weight room before training and then staying on the pitch after training," Daniel Frahn, RB Leipzig captain at the time, tells ESPN.

Finally, in a match at third division leaders Heidenheim in October 2013, Kimmich got his chance and never looked. Though it was eight years ago, that performance has stayed with those who witnessed it.

"He already had a great attitude and mentality back then," Heidenheim coach Frank Schmidt tells ESPN. "And today, he's nearly a complete player."

Zorninger also lauded Kimmich's winning mentality.

"He wants to win games no matter what," Zorninger tells ESPN. "That is one of his great skills. And he has a much bigger influence to control the match from holding midfield than from right-back. He's not only a great chaser of balls but also with his constant pressure on the ball puts the opponent into awkward positions and thus makes it easier for his teammates to win the ball."

Pressure. A chaser. You see it in Kimmich in virtually every game: Look at the Champions League clash with Lazio on Feb. 23 when Kimmich pressured defender Mateo Musacchio into playing a poor pass directly to Lewandowski to score their first. Then there was Kimmich's role in Bayern's winner at Bayer Leverkusen in December -- Kimmich hustled the Bayer defence into giving up the ball to allow Lewandowski to score an injury-time winner.

Usually, others will get the headlines but to understand Bayern, Kimmich is the key. He sets the pace, he makes the runs and the game revolves around him. There are occasions when he wants it too much, when he takes on yet another opponent and loses the ball. Watch him closely in the moments before he loses the ball.

"He has this move where he falls into the opponent when losing the ball in midfield, and he actually gets a free kick. It shows the cleverness," Daniel Frahn, Leipzig club captain from 2013-15, tells ESPN.

For as much as he's shown his ambition and vision, he's never been afraid to pick up ideas from his peers in order to improve his game -- he's a bit of a footballing magpie, and those early training sessions at Bayern Munich were important formative experiences for Kimmich.

"[He] helped me a lot, because we played the same position," Kimmich says of Xabi Alonso, his former teammate and World Cup winning midfielder from Spain.

"He always tried to tell me that I had to control with the foot which is in front to control the ball. To cover the pitch -- he helped me a lot with the orientation on the pitch and to know where my teammates are."

Kimmich played alongside some of his heroes -- Alonso, Arturo Vidal, Thiago -- and followed in the footsteps of legendary Bayern midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger. Yet even in a squad full of world-class talent, Kimmich made 36 appearances for Bayern in his debut campaign in 2015-16.

"I played that season in nearly every position," Kimmich says. "I played the most games as a central defender, I played right back, I played central midfielder. I also played one time as a winger in one half in Zagreb. It was an amazing year for me, as I could learn nearly every position.

"This step was a really big step for me but it was the most important step in my career. Fortunately, I did it and now I'm still at Bayern Munich. I hope I have made them proud."

This was the first time a second division player had made a real impact at Bayern since Roland Wohlfarth was brought in from MSV Duisburg in 1983. To the outside looking in, this was a remarkable achievement for the 19-year-old Kimmich. He was 5-foot-9 and holding his own -- even at centre back. But from those who saw him at Leipzig, his rapid elevation was no surprise.

"He's the most ambitious player I have ever played with," Frahn says. "You couldn't talk to him after a lost training match. He was just shattered, thinking about why he lost that match. He wasn't really an 18-year-old. He was ahead of his age."

FAST FORWARD TO 2021. Kimmich is usually deployed as a marauding defensive midfielder, hovering, passing, sniping, intercepting, and driving with an unbelievable work ethic. He laughs when he is referred to as a "mentality monster" but he's unapologetic for his competitiveness.

"It's in me, since I was a child," Kimmich says. "I've always wanted to win every game. Not only in football, but in other things. But you learn it when you come to this club here."

Kimmich used to stew on Bayern's rare defeats, micro-analysing his own performances, but he has since learned to compartmentalise and develop an "off" switch after the final whistle. It also helps that he has family waiting at home; he and his girlfriend Lina Meyer are proud parents of two young children.

"It [fatherhood] didn't change the most important thing for me -- as it doesn't matter if I'm a father or not, I just want to enjoy the game. I just started playing football because it's fun for me, it's the best thing for me. But when I come home, I don't think that much about football as I did before.

"When my kids and girlfriend are there, I want to spend time with them and don't think all the time about football and what I did wrong. I think before the kids, this was different -- when I came home it was football, football, football all the time, every day. Now I have another balance in my life."

Kimmich has also channelled this energy into giving back, throwing his weight behind the charity initiative #wekickcorona, which started with him and his midfield partner Leon Goretzka each donating €500,000 to the cause. Those funds were then distributed to non-profit organisations needing the funds most -- they have helped foodbanks, the homeless, blood donation services and local hospitals. They now have 4,200 donors on board.

"It's a big thing we have -- it's special for us there are a lot of people who have donated their money -- they think these two guys will give it to people who need it. This is a special thing for us. Not only that there are some German Bundesliga players who want to help us -- but also the other guys. There are a lot of people and this makes us proud."

One of the finest moments in Bayern's remarkable 2019-20 season was that 8-2 win in the Champions League quarterfinals over Barcelona . They were 4-1 up at half time against Lionel Messi & Co. without breaking a sweat.

"We felt good at half time, when you take the lead 4-1 against Barcelona. It was simply amazing. We had to keep going, continue and had the chance to make a big result and we did it. The motivation was big -- it is a Champions League. You try to keep going, it doesn't matter if it's 1-0 or 4-1. For us it was important to perform well, and we wanted to show the other opponents we were there: FC Bayern Munich want to win the Champions League this year."

And that is the same this year. They are still trying to scratch the itch of having won all of those trophies without their fans there to see the feat. They want more silverware this year. He touches on their premature exit from the DFB-Pokal Cup -- you sense it's a wound he's keen to heal next season.

"The ambition is always to win everything here. It's really special in this club to have the opportunity to win everything... This is our big goal -- unfortunately the [German] cup is not there this year, but there is still the Bundesliga and the Champions League, and we try to win it."

The accolades will continue for Kimmich, too. He was named in FIFA's Best XI last term.

"It meant a lot for me to be in it -- for me as a kid, or a young guy it was amazing to see the guys in this team, the best guys in the world, and for me it's unbelievable to be one of them in this year. We won everything -- that's the most important thing for me, to be successful in this team -- but when you're also important for your team who are successful, this is the greatest you can reach."

But is not holding out for the top individual award any time soon. "I have to score more often to win the Ballon d'Or."

Kimmich was starting to get a little agitated as he had a team meeting waiting he could not be late for. They're planning for Borussia Dortmund and how to stop Haaland.

"As a team," he says of how they plan to nullify the Haaland threat. "Like always, as a team."

A win on Saturday will be another step forward for Bayern Munich to what would be their remarkable ninth straight Bundesliga title. Kimmich has been there at the heartbeat of six of them. But they want more.

"The hunger is special. We have a special mentality," he says. "We have a lot of guys who want to win everything, every single game. In training the guys want to win. This is special when you're in a club and we won the Champions League, the six titles, and we had a nice run in 2020 and we want to continue and repeat that. We want to be successful in the future and we will give everything for that."