Bayern Munich will have one more test before the break…
Aside of last weekend’s red card-induced loss to VfL Bochum, Bayern Munich has been on quite a run.
Head coach Vincent Kompany appreciates the effort of his squad, but also knows the danger of playing on the road right before an international break.
Heading to Union Berlin might look like an easy match on paper, but Kompany would beg to differ.
“There are no easy games. We need to win, that’s where we start. Union did very well last time out against Frankfurt and convincingly won. It’s very clear what they do and they can always pose a threat. Our demand is that we deliver a complete performance and pick up three points. Obviously that isn’t easy in the Bundesliga. That’s football,” Kompany said (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).
Union Berlin will be without manager Steffen Baumgart due to a suspension, but Kompany leaned on an old American adage to say that Baumgart’s absence will play a role, but is ultimately up to the players’ performance — It’s not the X’s and the O’s, but the Jimmys and the Joes that make the difference.
“It’s the players who score the goals. But I understand that leadership from the sidelines, especially when it comes to energy, plays a part. I expect his assistants will make up for that. You always have trust in your staff as a coach. But someone like him will always be a miss,” said Kompany.
As for his own team, Kompany did not let on too much about how he will handle his lineup for Saturday.
“I’ve never spoken about rotation, always about trust in the squad. Sometimes it was out of need that we made changes. I have total trust in the squad. We’ll put out a good team and look to make sure we’ve got all the chances we need to win,” Kompany stated.
One player who does figure to play a prominent role is Eric Dier. Dier is expected to take over for Kim Min-jae, who is being held out due to his ongoing bout with Achilles tendonitis.
“Eric brings something fundamental to a team. He is very professional and always has the drive to improve himself and his teammates. He’s also played a lot and filled big roles in big games. A player like Eric doesn’t need to be talked about that often. I have a lot of respect for stories like that in the team, similar to Leon Goretzka. These examples are important for the squad and show: Concentrate on your work and you’ll get your moments. At the start of a season, we know who will play in the first few games, but not who will play in the final,” said Kompany.
Looking for thoughts and analysis on Bayern Munich’s upcoming Bundesliga match vs. Union Berlin? Awesome, because we have you covered with the Bavarian Podcast Works — Preview Show, which features a breakdown of the last game between the teams, a look at the rosters — including suspensions and injuries, and also a prediction on Vincent Kompany’s lineup and for the match. You can get the podcast on Patreon, Spotify, or below:
Also, be sure to stay tuned to Bavarian Podcast Works for all of your up to date coverage on Bayern Munich and Germany. Check us out on Patreon and follow us on Twitter @BavarianFBWorks, @BavarianPodcast @TheBarrelBlog, @BFWCyler, @2012nonexistent, @TommyAdams71 and more.
