The 4-1 defeat in Barcelona puts FC Bayern under pressure. Vincent Kompany has to prove how stable his high-risk system is. First of all, we’re going to a stadium that he doesn’t have good memories of.
Instead of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha or Lamine Yamal, Bayern’s opponents’ attackers are now called Moritz Broschinski, Dani de Wit or Philipp Hofmann. After the 4-1 humiliation at FC Barcelona, Vincent Kompany’s hotly debated high-risk system is being put to the test in the Bundesliga – albeit on a different level. “We shouldn’t look for excuses, but learn from them quickly so that we can show a better performance in Bochum,” said the 38-year-old Belgian.
With a win on Sunday (3:30 p.m./DAZN) at VfL Bochum, the new Munich coach can calm down the big turmoil after the violent Champions League wade. However, the duel with the bottom team is just as unsuitable for a lasting seal of quality for Kompany football as the other tasks in the English week.
Not a top class à la Barça
On Wednesday, Bayern want to avoid the next cup sadness in the DFB Cup after three second-round defeats in the past four years at FSV Mainz 05, before a home game against 1. FC Union Berlin. This is not international top class à la Barça. Nationally, Kompany led the star ensemble to the top with attractive football, internationally there were two defeats in three games.
“With Bochum and Mainz, we now have tasks that initially seem feasible on paper, but that also demand everything from us. That’s why we’re concentrating on that,” demanded CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen. “We have played exciting football in the last few games. I am sure that this exciting football will also lead to the results we want.”
Ex-defender Eberl: “We need the learning”
The management is closely following the highly praised performances of Kompany, who has repeatedly been called a “stroke of luck”. A big question now is about changes in the defensive game. “Of course you adapt and adjust,” explained sports director Max Eberl, a former defender. “This is a learning experience. This is exactly what we need.”
After seven wins in eleven competitive games, the Munich team has no doubts about the basic idea of the exciting Kompany style. “We defend what we do because we are convinced of it,” said Eberl. In the attack department, he vehemently opposes accusations, such as those directed at central defenders Minjae Kim and Dayot Upamecano, whom he finds “cheap”.
No Raphina, no Marmoush – no danger?
But the question remains, why don’t Bayern win the toughest tests – except against Stuttgart? They leave little chance for the opponent. But when they do, there are often huge gaps. And they are punished by international class like that of three-time Barcelona goalscorer Raphina as well as Bundesliga top scorer Omar Marmoush in his Frankfurt team’s 3-3 draw against FC Bayern. Such final quality cannot be expected from the ranks of the Bochum team of interim duo Markus Feldhoff and Murat Ural, who followed Peter Zeidler, who was dismissed this week.
“Our style of play proves us right. In the last ten games we have allowed very few chances to score. But it’s difficult to argue when you get four balls,” said midfield boss Joshua Kimmich. “There will always be setbacks. But we are on the right track. We have to analyze the game.”
Incidentally, the next step on this path will see Kompany return to a place where he has no fond memories as a player. On August 24, 2007, as a professional for Hamburger SV, he was shown the red card after 60 minutes in the Ruhrstadion – Bochum won 2-1.
Source: Stern
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