Neuer and Gnabry are out
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After FC Bayern’s first lost title in the DFB Cup against Bayer Leverkusen, coach Vincent Kompany recalled the situation in which he took over the record champions. Last season it remained titleless for the first time in twelve years.
“You have to go back six months to where we were and what we were up to. It is now self-evident that Bayern can ‘only’ become champions. But nobody wrote that at the beginning of the season,” said the Belgian before the Bundesliga home game on Saturday (3:30 p.m./Sky) against 1. FC Heidenheim. In addition to Harry Kane (31), goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (38; rib problems) and offensive player Serge Gnabry (29; knee problems) will also be out.
“The fact that we are now in this position where only the best is expected of us is a good sign,” Kompany continued. “It’s not about performance at the moment, it’s not about anything else, it’s just about the result. Six months ago no one thought that this would be our position today.”
Kompany on FC Bayern’s dependence on Musiala
The 38-year-old Neuer was unable to train on Friday. The captain should have been allowed to play in the league after his red card in the 0-1 defeat against Leverkusen. The two-game ban only applies in the cup. Daniel Peretz (24) will be in goal again for him, as he was after his sending off on Tuesday.
Kompany also commented on what ex-national player Toni Kroos said was his team’s extreme dependence on national player Jamal Musiala (21). “Wasn’t Real Madrid dependent on Cristiano Ronaldo? “Wasn’t Barcelona dependent on Lionel Messi?” replied the Belgian. Musiala is “a special player”, but overall there are a number of offensive players with a lot of scorer points.
Positive Bayern words for Wanner and Davies
Paul Wanner could be one of these again from next season. The 18-year-old is currently on loan to upcoming opponents Heidenheim and has been able to make his first mark in the Bundesliga. The list of interested parties for the talent continues to grow; alongside Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt is said to be hoping for a commitment next summer. In the eyes of Christoph Freund, however, Wanner should become an important part of the Bayern team.
“We are in regular contact with Paul. (…) We are very happy with his development, it is simply a logical next step in his career. (…) He is currently gaining very important experience. (…) As FC Bayern, we are planning with Paul Wanner in the future,” said the sports director, who also commented on the “Sky” report about significant progress in terms of extension with Alphonso Davies (24): “In general, we are in good discussions and We are positive.”
Kompany praises Heidenheim’s Schmidt as a “really great coach”
Kompany praised the performance of his colleague Frank Schmidt at 1. FC Heidenheim highly before the clash in the Bundesliga. The Belgian even indirectly puts the 50-year-old Schmidt on the same level as star coaches like Pep Guardiola, under whom Kompany played for several years at Manchester City.
“It’s one of those beautiful stories. I also say it with great respect: You can’t make a big difference between someone like that and the really big coaches in Europe,” said Kompany before the game in the Munich Arena. Before he became a coach himself, he saw a documentary about coaches in Germany.
“At that time the Heidenheimers were still in the 3rd league. I was already enthusiastic about the way he ran the club, with few employees,” said Kompany about Schmidt, who has been Heidenheim’s coach for 17 years and led the club from the 4th league to the Bundesliga and the European Cup. “There is a lot of stability and I have a lot of respect,” says Kompany. Even if Heidenheim has currently been winless in seven games in the Bundesliga, there is “no panic” there.
