After a few years of lackluster play in the DFB-Pokal, there is a renewed focus for Bayern Munich on excelling in the competition.
Ahead of Wednesday’s big cup game vs. FC Köln, Kompany seemed to understand
that anything can happen in the tournament.
“They’ve done very well so far, above all what they do in defense. I like the urgency they have, how quickly they close down the spaces to prevent shots and crosses. They’re also really dangerous on the break and have hurt a lot of teams there already,” Kompany said (as captured by FCBayern.com). “It’s not just defending their box but also a good, solid central block from which they can launch dangerous counters. They’re at home, believe in their chance, but we’re going to Cologne with great hunger for this cup tie. We’re doing a lot right at the moment and want to take that into the Köln game as well.
“You always feel that the cup is special. I always like it when we’ve got a bit of pressure. That’s never had a bad impact on my team. I always feel like when the performance is right, we’ve got a big chance of reaching the next round or getting three points. So, pressure doesn’t bother me. But the obligation to win? Football is always the same. But the desire to be in a cup final doesn’t just come from the fans but also from us.”
Kompany also dove into a potential subplot to the game — the possibility of seeing two of the Bundesliga’s best young talents, Bayern Munich’s Lennart Karl and FC Köln’s Said El Mala.
“When they manage to score from a counter, El Mala usually has a lot to do with it. He’s got that first acceleration and then a second during the move. That surprises a lot of defenders. He can also shoot from those high-speed moves. He does that well. Having that feeling of being inactive and then suddenly launching the counter, that’s a quality. But it’s nice for him and Lennart Karl that they can improve even more. They’ll show that in the coming months and years. It’s good for Köln and Bayern, but it should ultimately be better for Bayern,” Kompany stated.
Bayern Munich’s injury situation has start to clear up a bit. As for Manuel Neuer, who is still serving a red card suspension, Kompany is not requiring the veteran to travel to Cologne. Otherwise, everyone aside of the players with long-term injuries will be available.
“It’s up to Manuel if he comes with us or not. He needs to prepare for Leverkusen. That’s his job. But we’re playing again very quickly after Köln, so his preparation is key. Beyond that, things look good. We’ve got Raphaël Guerreiro back fit. Josip Stanišić and Serge Gnabry are also back. The squad is as we’d want it going into these three games,” said Kompany. “He (Urbig) has showed that he’s at a very high level at a young age. He’s got a perfect platform with Manuel Neuer, Sven Ulreich and our goalkeeping team. It’s the perfect path for him right now. We’re very happy he’s here. Alex is doing a great job at Stuttgart, has provided two assists lately. He belongs to us. We’ve got a number of options. That’s good for us.
“Nobody is assured of their place. That doesn’t mean a lot in football. Everyone has to earn their minutes by performing. We’ve got a lot of players, so logically some of them get their minutes. Serge Gnabry has done well so far but was then out injured. I have a different opinion to Nicolas Jackson than the public, but obviously when he scores a few goals there won’t be a debate anymore. I’m of the opinion that he’s already helped a lot. And Lennart Karl has provided some magic as a young player. It’s good for everyone. But who will play against Köln? We’ll see tomorrow. But you can hear that I hold every player in high regard.”
Bayern Munich has a renewed emphasis on winning the DFB-Pokal and will look to take the next step on the road at RheinEnergieSTADION.
Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany could have some tough decisions with his lineup. Should he rest key players or is this game too important against a dangerous enough opponent to take a risk?
We will talk about all of that and more on the latest edition of the Bavarian Podcast Works — Preview Show. This is what we have on tap:
- What to watch for with FC Köln in the DFB-Pokal.
- A look at Bayern Munich’s injury situation.
- A guess at Bayern Munich’s starting XI.
- A prediction on the match.
