Company amplifies the 'Giant Error' as much as possible
With great enthusiasm, Vincent Kompany starts his new job at the German football champion, FC Bayern. The FC Bayern aims to win titles again. However, old debates are smoldering in the background, fueled by Uli Hoeneß.
To get to know the land and people better, Vincent Kompany first went to the picturesque Tegernsee and stayed on the 1722-meter-high Wallberg. "Coming up here is okay, but going down again after 20 years of professional career: That's really hard. And they say this is a small mountain," the new FC Bayern trainer said at the start of the training camp in Rottach-Egern.
With his staff, the 38-year-old had already embarked on a mountain tour on Sunday and spent the night in a hut. They stayed at the noble Seehotel Überfahrt from Monday to Thursday. He wanted to develop "a better feeling" for his new environment, Kompany explained. "This is a unique region in Europe, hardly any region is as proud as Bavaria."
And hardly any club is as big as FC Bayern, whose "Mia san mia" suffered significantly in the previous season, the first titleless in twelve years - a disgrace. With Kompany, it should go back to the top. He understands "this feeling," he said. "We have to keep going, it's always the next step. Everything in the past is beautiful, but we are successful because we think about the future."
Eberl: Kompany wants "to evolve"
His bosses have been convinced by his attitude. Sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic spoke to the "Welt" of a "remarkable solution, a perfect fit." The former world-class defender is "ready to develop and evolve. He has the courage, the guts, and our trust - and from us, the feeling that we can make mistakes. That's how we'll be successful." Even honorary president Uli Hoeneß was impressed by the new coach after a joint dinner. "I was pleasantly surprised" by how clearly Kompany had stated that "the work must be in the foreground."
He also emphasized this before the first team on the football field of FC Rottach-Egern. There is "no compromise on hard work. I want intensity in training." Already during his presentation, he had emphasized: "My lifestyle is work, the thing I love. I am all-in." At the same time, he also wanted to "do everything for the players to become better and feel good."
What Kompany did not want: answering questions about the numerous speculations about possible incoming or outgoing players. What will happen to Leon Goretzka, since the Portuguese Joao Palhinha is now clearing the way for the defense? Will Joshua Kimmich play as a right-back or perhaps again in the central midfield? Will Kingsley Coman stay? Will Matthijs de Ligt go? "That's not my job. Names don't belong in my thinking," the 38-year-old made clear. It would be "a huge mistake to talk about individual players."
Important: "Have a backbone"
This was different at FC Bayern recently. The "huge mistake" that Kompany sees was committed by his predecessors. Six-time champion trainer Hansi Flick left the Munich team because he disagreed with former sports director Hasan Salihamidzic about squad planning. The short tenure of Thomas Tuchel began with transfer theater about the "Holding Six" and ended with grumbling about the squad size. Julian Nagelsmann, who now holds the Bundestrainer position, also presented his player wishes to the Säbener Straße himself confidently.
Uli Hoeneß is now really not commenting on the name of the company, but you should be pleased about that: Uli Hoeneß. He doesn't live only at Tegernsee, but he still manages the affairs of the German football record champion from there, even in retirement. Or sometimes he does that publicly. By now, it's an annual event for Hoeneß to comment on his work assignments (more frugality!) to the responsible parties in the microphone.
Recently on the weekend: He pointed out that a particular position is still vacant. FC Bayern has "no money left", said Hoeneß. If Eberl/Freund still want to sign more players, they have to sell some first. They have already spent 125 million Euro on wing striker Michael Olise, central defender Hiroki Ito, and the aforementioned Palhinha. More stars are rumored to still be on the shopping list. He could also cost another 90 million Euro: a lot of money. The income side can't keep up with that yet: Malik Tillman is switching for 12 million Euro to Eindhoven. That's it.
But that's not the only problem Hoeneß sees. While Tuchel was plagued by a chronic illness at the end of the season and was almost out of players, Hoeneß saw things differently on the weekend. He suspected that a potential problem with the team bus was looming: a squad that is too bloated, for which the team bus no longer suffices. Hoeneß didn't want to comment on that. "We have 60, 70 games, we need all players," he explained briefly.
Company, as is now clear, has other priorities. It's important to him to "feel the energy and see the hunger." He renounced grandiolous battle cries after a titleless season: "Players like us have a reaction. We don't need to make big speeches. But it's important to me that we show that we have determination."
Uli Hoenneß expressed his concern about the size of the FC Bayern Munich squad, stating that they may need to sell some players before bringing in more, considering the financial constraints. This comes after the club has already spent 125 million Euro on three new signings.
Max Eberl, the sports director, seems to have the backing of Vincent Kompany, as he mentioned that the new coach is "ready to develop and evolve" in his role. This alignment between the coach and the sports director could be crucial in addressing Hoenneß's concerns about the team's size.
