– Called and demanding: Kompany’s pressing style is reviving Bavaria
After a slightly delayed landing in Munich following an overnight flight, Vincent Kompany gave his players a day and a half to recover from the rigours of the journey to South Korea. Hard work is the 38-year-old Belgian’s motto. But former top player Kompany, as a coach, pays attention to dosing, even as he tries to introduce a new style of football to the record champions at a rapid pace. In his view, the royal road is to keep the good and become worthy of the title again with the new.
Kompany, as seen during the intense days in Seoul, seems more introspective than extroverted. He doesn’t like to explain much in public, especially when it comes to reporters’ questions about individual players.
“Bayern “He has played very similar football for a long time,” said sporting director Max Eberl after many recent championship years that Bayer Leverkusen was able to end with the impressive football of Xabi Alonso. The aim is to counterattack with Vinnie’s football.
That’s Kompany’s line. “He wants to have incredibly high physical preparation, high energy, high intensity on the pitch,” Eberl said, especially against the ball. Against Tottenham, this looked like extremely high, aggressive pressing – man-on-man. Ball gains should lead to scoring opportunities and goals through lightning-fast switches and combinations. Harry Kane can expect that. But will Kane, who is supposed to start training in midweek, adapt to the intense pressing style?
Total Press
Konrad Laimer, who is probably the most acerbic ball-hunter in the Munich squad, spoke at the end of the Korean tour about “total press”. The Austrian is convinced that “the style of play will be very dominant” when the entire Munich team “has the nuances”.
Bayern’s stars have to adjust to a different style of training and matches under Kompany. Kompany trains and teaches extremely active, loud and energetic. But his style seems to be well received. “Especially in the early stages, he could be a bit louder from the stands,” said captain Manuel Neuer. “His call is necessary,” said Laimer.
“We are currently doing everything very conscientiously,” said veteran Thomas Müller, who is doing his 10th season preparation. “The coaching team around Kompany is leading by example with their commitment and discipline – and we are following suit,” said Müller: “And that is also necessary. Because we have a lot planned for this season. We will be passed from one department to another in training. Each coach has the lead in their respective areas.”
Difference with Nagelsmann and Tuchel
Unlike Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel, Kompany begins his coaching career in Munich without a great coaching CV. But compared to his predecessors, he can point to a great playing career, especially at Manchester City, where he also learned from Pep Guardiola, whose work was appreciated by Bayern players such as Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller or Joshua Kimmich.
Kimmich expressed his positive impressions after just a few days of working together: “Kompany has his ideas on the ball and against the ball. He conveys them well with videos and his training on the pitch.” A “certain signature” is already recognizable.
“Fantastic football with scores of 2:2, 3:3, 4:4 is not enough,” noted Eberl. “Attractiveness comes through results. Attractive football without results ultimately leads to unattractive football without results.”
Indeed, Kompany believes he and Bayern Munich could form a perfect partnership. “I think we fit together very well,” he said in Seoul, speaking of his “mentality,” or way of thinking. Success is his driving force. “I’ve had to win all my life. Why should I change here? It will never change. The club’s expectations cannot be greater than my expectations for myself.”
Vincent Kompany’s trip to South Korea with Bayern Munich inspired him to focus on introspection, as he tends to be less verbose about individual players’ performances. To counter Bayern’s traditionally similar style of play, Kompany looks to introduce an intense pressing style, relying on high fitness, energy and intensity.
