Vincent Kompany’s first month as Bayern Munich’s manager has exceeded all expectations. Bayern is the only European team in the five major leagues that has won all of its matches (via @iMiaSanMia). Bayern has paired three clean sheets with multiple goals in all six competitive matches.
The biggest riser in the updated rankings is Michael Olise (+8). Besides Sacha Boey (injury), the biggest drop is Mathys Tel (-7). October should see a lot more movement due to the frequency of games. The disparity in minutes will increase, causing larger rifts within the rankings.
This monthly series will combine Kompany’s pecking order with on-field performances. The first 11 players aren’t necessarily the starting XI (due to position issues) but players out with injuries will be relegated to the bottom of the list, starting at #23 in this edition.
1) Harry Kane
Kane has been unreal this season, scoring or finding an assist in every match. Through four matches, Kane leads the Bundesliga in both goals and assists. Don’t forget about the four-goal outing against Dinamo Zagreb, including three immaculate penalty kicks into the same corner. Kane’s touches and overall involvement have both increased under Kompany’s offense and Bayern has reaped the rewards.
2) Jamal Musiala
The magician has responded to his Ballon d’Or exclusion by producing some of the best performances of his career. While the stats aren’t peak Messi level (yet), Musiala is playing like a true number 10 as he snakes around defenders in the half spaces and picks out teammates in unexpected, dangerous positions.
3) Joshua Kimmich
Kimmich is the only Bayern player who has played every minute of every match this season. He has been a rock in the middle of the pitch, while also dropping backwards to allow the outside backs to press forward in the attack. His partnership with Aleksandar Pavlović has been fantastic.
4) Manuel Neuer
Bayern’s management and fans are holding their breath as Neuer works to return from the injury he picked up in the Champions League clash against Dinamo Zagreb. He was poised to start against Werder Bremen, but felt something in warmups and erred on the side of caution. At 38, Neuer is still a world class goalkeeper and Bayern will need him healthy for some big matches on the horizon.
5) Michael Olise
The reserved 22-year-old French winger has already won over the Bayern faithful with his smooth dribbling and calm finishing. In just 69 minutes against Werder Bremen, he was the clear Man of the Match with two goals and two assists. The youngster is shaping up to be the best signing of the summer transfer window, regardless of club.
6) Aleksandar Pavlović
Pavlović isn’t doing anything outlandish but is letting the offense run through or around him. Now that he’s a starter and playing the majority of the game, he’s also done a much better job avoiding yellow cards. The Bayern native continues to improve at a steady rate and allows fans to root for Ryan Gravenberch at Liverpool rather than lament the lost opportunity.
7) Dayot Upamecano
Second in minutes only to Kimmich, Upamecano has avoided the clumsy mistakes in big moments that have plagued his career. Both of his yellow cards have been unnecessary but haven’t come in dangerous spots either. Bayern fans often forget that he’s only 25 and Upamecano’s best days should be directly ahead of him.
8) Serge Gnabry
Gnabry has been a pleasant surprise. He’s delivered a goal or assist in five out of the six matches and will be kicking himself for not finishing a few more opportunities. He looks like a glue guy who best complements the more talented players roaming around him.
9) Kim Min-jae
Kim has played the same minutes as Upamecano but has delivered a wider range of performances. Kim had brutal games against Wolfsburg and Dinamo Zagreb but followed up both matches with his best outings against Freiburg and Bremen, respectively. Without seeing training sessions, Eric Dier has probably earned some minutes at Kim’s expense but Kompany continues to roll with the Upamecano-Kim duo.
10) Alphonso Davies
Davies had a rough opener against Wolfsburg and was benched for the Freiburg match. He didn’t look much better against Holstein Kiel but Kompany stuck with him and Davies picked up his game for the Dinamo Zagreb and Bremen games. Davies is less reliable than Raphaël Guerreiro but has a much higher upside and will receive the benefit of the doubt.
11) Raphaël Guerreiro
Guerreiro has turned in some solid shifts, especially that rocket half volley against Dinamo Zagreb. He’s clearly more comfortable on the left flank but will split minutes with a couple other players at right back until Stanišić and Boey are back in the lineup.
12) Thomas Müller
In Müller’s swan song he has stepped into the role of super sub. He doesn’t usually provide a boost of energy but does come with tactical changes to help Bayern see out each win. The youth movement will probably phase him out as the season progresses, but there will be too many quality minutes for him to just ride the bench.
13) Kingsley Coman
After almost leaving at the transfer deadline, the king of France opted to return to Munich. His minutes have slowly increased each match but he will need to produce more goals if he wants to supplant Gnabry as the starting left winger.
14) João Palhinha
The emergence of Pavlović as a reliable starter has enabled Palhinha to integrate into the squad at a more manageable pace. It’s not a coincidence that Bayern has only conceded one goal in his 142 minutes this season. As the weekday games start to become more frequent Kompany can’t afford to play Kimmich every single minute and will look to Palhinha to fill that void.
15) Konrad Laimer
Laimer has been lightly used and is struggling to establish his role in the system. He looked a little more comfortable against Bremen but still graded out the lowest amongst the defenders.
16) Mathys Tel
Tel hasn’t replicated his superb start from last season and has admittedly not played his best. While a winter loan might be on the table, Tel has historically proven to put his head down and work for his playing time.
17) Sven Ulreich
Ulreich has been fine, which is the best you can expect from a 36-year old backup goalkeeper. He was thrown into the fire against Dinamo Zagreb, giving up two quick goals to let them back into the game. Then he came up with a monstrous save on the third shot. Just like the German national team, Bayern doesn’t have a great replacement solution for Neuer at the moment.
18) Leroy Sané
Sané finally looks healthy and is working his way back into shape. He scored his second goal since last October but still looks skittish about reaggravating that groin injury. Olise’s immediate impact has allowed Sané to fully heal from his injury that has plagued him all year.
19) Eric Dier
Dier’s loan from Tottenham worked out well for all parties involved during the Rückrunde, but Dier has only played 32 minutes under Kompany. Dier’s experience is a luxury but will need to shake off any rust when called upon.
20) Leon Goretzka
Everyone at Bayern feels for Goretzka in his current situation but no applause was louder than his powerful header goal against Dinamo Zagreb. Goretzka’s fury will be unleashed eventually, but Kompany will have to play some mind games to keep Goretzka primed and ready to roll.
21) Adam Aznou
Aznou has played five matches for Bayern II this season and even earned Man of the Match honors in his first senior appearance for the Moroccan national team. It feels inevitable that he’ll be called upon soon which is why he stays in the rankings.
22) Daniel Peretz
Peretz is technically available but will only be used as an emergency replacement as he comes back from that brutal tendon injury that kept him out of the Olympics.
23) Sacha Boey (injured)
Boey finally caught his big break at Bayern and filled in admirably against Wolfsburg and Holstein Kiel. Unfortunately, Boey tore his meniscus and will miss a month of action.
24) Josip Stanišić (injured)
Stanišić will remain sidelined with his knee injury until November or October.
25) Arijon Ibrahimović (injured)
Ibrahimović has returned to team training but Bayern’s medical staff has remained cautious since he is a young prospect who is not immediately needed for the senior squad.
26) Hiroki Itō (injured)
Like Stanišić, Itō will work back from his injury for another month or two.
XX) Gabriel Vidović (loan)
Vidović was loaned out to Mainz at the end of the summer transfer window and no longer qualifies for this list.
