– “A lot of good things”: Kompany’s sign and Eberl’s ads
Before the 13-hour overnight flight back to Munich, coach Vincent Kompany and Bayern pros Minjae Kim and Thomas Müller had to fulfil marketing commitments in stifling Seoul. Meanwhile, in the air-conditioned team hotel on the Han River, sporting director Max Eberl positively assessed the sporting aspect of the 85-hour stay in South Korea.
“I’ve seen a lot of good things,” said Eberl of the 2:1 (1:0) friendly win over Tottenham Hotspur, watched by 63,496 fans at the World Cup Stadium on Saturday evening. “High energy, high intensity in the running.” Bayern’s new style.
“The most successful trip so far”
Chief financial officer Michael Diederich, who was standing next to Eberl, praised the record sales of jerseys and the great attention in defender Kim’s home country. “In terms of merchandising, this was the most successful trip so far,” said the 58-year-old: “We always have high expectations, and they were exceeded in this country.”
And in terms of sport? Even though the win over Tottenham was only a friendly in sauna conditions, it was very important for the balance of the trip. Kompany needs results in the form of a cultural change in football to get FC Bayern back on track for trophies after a year without a title.
Most notable innovation: an aggressive, man-to-man pressing style to win back the ball. “It was important for us to radiate danger from the moment we got the ball,” Kompany praised. Only two goals, though, came from the talented Gabriel Vidovic and substitute Leon Goretzka. Pedro Porro pulled one back for Spurs with a powerful long-range strike.
“The most important thing was: The whole team was ready to suffer under the difficult conditions,” Kompany summed up. He did not say anything concrete about individual players and their roles. But he gave first clues with Joshua Kimmich’s position in midfield and Goretzka’s more attacking role in midfield.
New signing João Palhinha made his debut for 45 minutes as a defensive midfielder. “João is a professional,” said Eberl of the Portuguese, who arrived from Fulham for 50 million euros. “He will help us a lot.”
Active, aggressive, intense – Kompany’s approach is resonating with the team, even the long-standing leaders. “If you consider that we were able to play a first half like that after just a few days of training, that makes you happy,” said Thomas Müller. He is “a fan of pressure” and had “a smile on his face” as Bayern’s popular home team leader left the stadium.
“It’s also fun for the team to see that this work is paying off,” said captain Manuel Neuer of the intense pursuit of the ball on the pitch. “After such a short time, you could already see a certain style, a way we want to play,” said Kimmich.
The 29-year-old hinted that he sees his future in Munich beyond the expiration of his contract in 2025. Eberl reported on a “very open” first conversation with Kimmich the following day: “That Joshua should play an important role for us, that is clear.”
De Ligt and Mazraoui are part of the sales package
Eberl continues to work on the team. The sales process remains challenging. When board colleague Diederich presented the impressive shirt sales figures, he joked: “With these shirt sales, I have to ask if I even need to sell them.” Indeed, he does. Defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui could move to Manchester United as a package deal if the millions are right. The transfer market is “very difficult.” Buyers want to pay as little as possible, while sellers want to get as much as possible.
El centrocampista español Bryan Zaragoza (22) reportedly will be loaned out after just half a year in Munich due to strong competition in the attack. Latecomers Harry Kane and Alphonso Davies will join the team last after an extended vacation. Leroy Sané’s return from his groin operation won’t make it in time for the season start.
Kompany now can work on his dream team, one that plays “exciting football”, as Eberl put it. “We want a team that gives its all on the pitch.”
