"Bayern Munich Playing Even Better Than Under Guardiola"
Initially, there were many doubts about Vincent Kompany, but the Belgian coach managed to turn them into praise. Here’s what Lothar Matthäus had to say.
Retired footballer Lothar Matthäus has stated that Bayern Munich, under the guidance of Belgian coach Vincent Kompany, is "playing even better" at the start of this season than they did under Spanish coach Pep Guardiola.
In his weekly column for 'Sky Sport', the legendary midfielder noted that Kompany "embodies a style similar to some of his predecessors who made history at Bayern Munich 20, 30, or 40 years ago." However, he added, "it remains to be seen" if Kompany "will be as successful as Guardiola was" during his tenure at the club.
"Guardiola also had good starts, quick passes, and frequent positional changes, but not as clearly defined. The play now moves more forward than sideways or backward. This isn't always possible against a deep defense like Leverkusen's on Saturday, but Bayern consistently tries to activate the offensive mode," Matthäus explained.
The former Ballon d'Or winner argued that these tactics make the game, in his opinion, "more attractive than ever seen at Bayern," and he highlighted some of the less celebrated players in the squad.
"When I see how Kim Min-jae played on Saturday, I understand why he was the best defender in Serie A two years ago. It's not just the 'Kanes' or 'Musialas,' but also the quieter players doing their jobs well. I think the players are having fun, and the atmosphere in the team is good," he elaborated.
Praise for Kompany
The former German international praised Kompany for "improving the players" and compared him to legendary Bayern coaches like Udo Lattek, Ottmar Hitzfeld, and Jupp Heynckes.
"I know how these coaches treated their players: sometimes tough, but always with humanity. I think this honesty is appreciated by the team. Kompany makes clear statements, sometimes gives the players an extra day off, but also demands from them and will surely take a tougher tone when necessary," Matthäus remarked.
He further added that thanks to the young coach, "at Allianz Arena, at Säbener Strasse (Bayern’s headquarters), at the training campus, and among the fans on the street, you can see smiling faces again." He called this "the club's greatest gain and victory," and once again urged the renewals of midfielder Joshua Kimmich and attacking midfielder Jamal Musiala.
