Bayern Munich are currently training in South Korea and will play a friendly match against Tottenham Hotspur of the Premier League at 19:00 on the evening of August 3. At the pre-match press conference, head coach Vincent Kompany stated that Bayern couldn’t find a more competitive coach than him and discussed the key to improving their defense.
In response to journalists’ questions about how to improve defense, Kompany said: “When it comes to organizing defense, there’s much to talk about. It’s not just about the four defenders. If you look at Bayern when they won 11 consecutive titles, they had more than just excellent defenders; they were also very good at pressing as a team. We must consider defending as a whole, with all 11 players. I remember playing against Jerome Boateng at Manchester City, who, alongside Dante, became one of the best defensive partnerships in the world. What I’m saying is that as a defender, when the whole team helps you defend, you can become a top-tier defender.”
Last season, Bayern’s performance was poor, and Kompany hopes that Bayern can rise from adversity: “We want to do better than last season and will give it our all. (With the poor results last season) I expect to see everyone’s response, and we’re already seeing this in training. I hope to see this response in the upcoming matches as well.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming friendly against Tottenham, Kompany said: “We want to maintain a good level of fitness and see the right attitude in the game, including those players who haven’t been training for long. Most players will be participating tomorrow. New signings? I’m happy with the new arrivals. Sometimes, it’s not just about the level and quality but also about bringing new energy to the team. I hope they will do their best to help the team succeed.”
Kompany talked about legends such as Müller and Neuer: “Regarding what my team and I aim to achieve, I have a very clear vision. Look at these players—not just Manuel (Neuer) and Thomas (Müller), they are used to working with coaches with high expectations. Even though they are already legends, they still want to improve—that’s the mindset of a legend. So, working with such powerful and experienced players makes things a bit easier.”
In the 2022-23 season, when Kompany led Burnley back to the Premier League seven rounds early, he received worldwide praise. However, he failed to prevent Burnley’s relegation last season, which drew much criticism. Many fans pointed out that the Bayern Munich Kompany joined is a completely different team from Burnley, so his ideas and philosophy must change. Kompany disagreed: “Why would you change your ideas just because you’re working with another club? You should strive to win every game. I’ve always been like this, even at youth team levels. I was born with this mentality. The club couldn’t find a coach more eager to win than me! From this perspective, I think I’m a perfect fit for the team!”