Bayern Munich start to the 2024/25 Bundesliga season hasn’t been spotless, but two wins in two games is quite hard to nitpick, especially since head coach Vincent Kompany would expect his side to implement his tactics and game plan better as the season progresses.
The players seem to have responded well to the change in coaching, too. Count star striker Harry Kane as one of the most enthusiastic.
“It was a very good start. I’m really impressed with how much energy he brings. He’s already managed to get all the players to respect him. The coach and we as a team are hungry to have a successful season,” Kane said at a recent press conference following his Golden Shoe 2024 award ceremony (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).
Kompany’s rapport with the locker room is a promising early sign — especially given Bayern’s past history of drama and fallouts with coaches. Of course, it remains to be seen how long this will last. But for now, the off-field harmony is just as good as the on-field.
“I think it really suits the way I like to play both on and off the ball — high pressure and winning the ball back in dangerous areas which allows us to get chances,” Kane had said (also via @iMiaSanMia), regarding the new coach’s system of play. “I always say as long as I get chances then I’m happy because I believe I can put them away more often than not. As a team, it suits the personnel we have. Of course time will tell but so far it’s been good.”
It is indeed quite nice to see the phrase ‘high pressure’ being used to describe Bayern Munich’s football once again. Thomas Tuchel’s anti-pressure football may have led fans to temporarily forget the high intensity style this team usually brings to the pitch.
On the face of it, things sound quite positive. But that was also how it was under Julian Nagelsmann, until he received Das Boot. So here’s to hoping that Kompany can withstand Bayern’s coaching curse and keep his job for more than a season.
By winning trophies, that is.
