Over the past few years, Aleksandar Pavlovic has developed from a youth player into a key player at FC Bayern. The 22-year-old now hopes to follow a similar path with the German national team.
In the 2-0 victory over Serbia, Pavlovic already made a strong case for himself. Alongside Bayern teammate Tom Bischof, he impressed in central midfield and was one of the most notable players on the field.
Jürgen Klopp was also impressed afterward. The national team coach specifically praised Pavlovic for his presence and highlighted that the midfielder could be found practically all over the field. Now Pavlovic wants to build on this performance and establish himself as a key player on the DFB team.
Pavlovic wants to control the game
The Bayern Munich pro made it clear ahead of the next Nations League match what his vision is for his role. Pavlovic has no intention of limiting himself to specific tasks.
“Ultimately, the coach decides what role I’ll play, but I simply want to bring my strengths to the team when I play—control the game when I have the ball, press when we don’t have it, get into tackles, and help the team both defensively and offensively. That’s what I want to bring to the team.”
Above all, his statement about wanting to control the game catches the ear. Pavlovic sees himself not only as a defensive anchor but as a midfielder who can set the team’s rhythm and take on responsibility both with and without the ball.
In doing so, he describes a role that, within the DFB team, has so far been claimed primarily by Joshua Kimmich. While Pavlovic’s statement isn’t a direct challenge to his Bayern teammate, it does show the high standards the 22-year-old now sets for himself.
Rivalry with Kimmich Gains Momentum
The current international break, in particular, offers Pavlovic the opportunity to make his case. With Kimmich and Felix Nmecha absent, two established midfielders are missing from the DFB’s second squad. This allows Pavlovic and Bischof to step up and make their mark.
They did so impressively against Serbia. The Bayern duo, in particular, showed that Klopp has additional options in the center. After the game, the national team coach tried to quickly quell a burgeoning debate about Kimmich, but the competition has nevertheless intensified.
For Pavlovic, the situation is particularly exciting. At FC Bayern, he regularly plays alongside Kimmich, while on the national team he’s competing with him and other players for the coveted spots in the center.
Klopp is likely to welcome this development. Pavlovic’s skills are fundamentally well-suited to the intense style of soccer the 59-year-old wants to see. The Bayern pro combines technical quality and ball control with aggressive pressing and strength in one-on-one duels.
After his strong performance against Serbia, Pavlovic’s focus is now on consistently demonstrating these qualities. In any case, he has clearly articulated his goal: He doesn’t just want to play in the DFB midfield—he wants to increasingly dictate the game himself.