Jonathan Tah has enjoyed a solid maiden season with Bayern Munich after joining from Bayer Leverkusen last summer. Thanks largely in parts to efforts from board member for sport Max Eberl and Bayern sporting
director Christoph Freund, the German Rekordmeister were able to have Tah released from Leverkusen and in the Bayern squad on time for the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, which was a huge plus for Vincent Kompany in terms of getting a proper preseason of sorts under Tah’s belt. Granted, the Club World Cup was a competitive competition and by no means treated as preseason friendlies.
So far this season, Tah has made a total of thirty appearances across all competitions, having added three goals and two assists along the way. He’s formed quite the formidable partnership at the heart of Bayern’s backline alongside Dayot Upamecano and with the Frenchman’s much-anticipated contract extension, the pair will be a solid duo in Bayern’s backline for seasons to come.
As he turns 30, Tah will join the likes of Manuel Neuer, Sven Ulreich, Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Raphaël Guerreiro, Harry Kane, and Serge Gnabry in the over 30 club at Bayern, which is a milestone for Kompany that says the defender will only continue to get better with age for Kompany. “I had the three or four most successful years of my career after turning 30. I’ve been following Jona for some time; he was one of my successors at HSV, then he went to Leverkusen. He’s steadily improved. He’s now in his prime. Being a defender isn’t just about winning duels, it’s also about communication. You bring that with experience. Jona has that, and we’re very happy with him,” the Belgian manager explained in the press conference ahead of the DFB-Pokal quarterfinals clash against RB Leipzig (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).
Using Robert Lewandowski as a prime example during his time at Bayern, age can well and truly just be a number for certain players. The Polish ace was hardly ever out injured for the Bundesliga champions and the same can be said for Tah right now. The towering German center back has not missed any matches through injury so far this season, he was only left on the bench as an unused sub on three occasions in the Bundesliga, one of which was the shock 2-2 draw to Mainz in December.
