German press attacks Vincent Kompany: “Naïve harakiri football” and “The end is already looming”
Vincent Kompany’s honeymoon at Bayern Munich came to an abrupt end in recent weeks. After the 4-1 defeat at Barcelona, the German press increased the pressure even more. The columnists dipped their pens in vitriol. An overview.
Image (Matthias Brügelmann)
“It became a duel between the master (Hansi Flick, ed.) and a trainee. It was also a slap in the face of (sporting director) Max Eberl. He chose Vincent Kompany over Flick in the summer.”
“Bayern Munich may be first in the Bundesliga, but it does not dominate. Internationally, Barcelona, Manchester City and Real Madrid are at least one class better.”
“After a season without a trophy, the Bayern management is under enormous pressure to do well with Kompany at the helm. And there are currently doubts about that.”
Welt (Julian Wolff)
“This was a humiliation that gives Bayern food for thought.”
“This match has exposed the dangers and risks of Kompany’s game system. In Spain it became clear that the courageous Kompany system is not (yet) refined enough for the highest international level.”
“It was a test of maturity and Bayern failed. It reached its limits, also because Barcelona was so good and efficient.”
“This tactic is good enough for the Bundesliga, but Bayern needs top-class defenders for this system and Kim and Upamecano are not those.”
“The pressure on Kompany has increased enormously due to this defeat. Unless the players quickly become more mature and self-confident, the dream of a final at home will quickly disappear.”
Frankfurter Allgemeine (Christoph Meltzer)
“98 days ago, Vincent Kompany led his first training at Bayern. Since then, he has been working on a playing style that is so dominant that you should get away with it in Barcelona.”
“Bayern is further along than you could have expected given the long search for a trainer. But not nearly far enough.”
“Kompany repeated after the match, in all languages, that they had to learn from this defeat. But what they had to learn was never concrete.”
Express (Denis Canalp)
“Vincent Kompany plays spectacular football. Lothar Matthäus even compared him to Pep Guardiola. At the time that was a serious statement, now it seems like satire.”
“Kompany’s tactics are too naive for matches against teams of the same or a higher level.”
“Moreover, there is no plan B. The belief in one’s own strength and tactics is too great. You could also call that stubbornness.”
“Is Kompany still sticking to his hara-kiri tactics after this embarrassing defeat? Is he capable of doing anything else?”
“Criticism of that tactic has been prohibited until now. Maybe this match was an eye-opener? It would be surprising if (Bayern bosses) Hoeness and Rummenigge continue to ignore these results. The end is already looming.”
“Tuchel antagonized his bosses with his ugly football, but he did reach the semi-finals of the Champions League. Only a bad decision kept him out of the final. Under his successor, Bayern are light years away from that!”
Focus (Dominik Rosing)
“Bayern was four classes less than Barcelona. Kompany’s football was initially widely praised. But in the weeks of truth, the results were not forthcoming.”
“Against Barcelona, glaring weaknesses came to light, especially in defence. Kim and Upamecano do not have the individual quality for Kompany’s risky football.”
