Former Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman left the club last summer, but he knew this season was on track to be special.
“You could already sense something was developing last season. It clicked immediately. But when a new coach arrives, you still need time to truly internalize his ideas. At the beginning, you think about processes: What do I have to do? Where do I need to go? Eventually, it happens automatically and becomes part of your game. That’s exactly what you’re seeing now. Everyone knows
their role. And when you don’t have to think about it anymore at the highest level, you gain time. That half-second can decide everything. That’s why I felt something special was possible with this group. It’s already a good, maybe very good season. But for it to be truly exceptional, they have to take that final step,” Coman told FCBayern.com. “You can see it in the pressing, the rotations, the players’ constant movement. And you can see it in the defensive mentality – not just among the defenders, but throughout the entire team. When I was there one last time for my farewell and had dinner with the team, I felt that this group believes in itself.
“The atmosphere has always been fantastic, but when you win and realize you can go far, the bond becomes even stronger. We already saw that at the Club World Cup. If the performances are up to par, it could turn into an extraordinary year. Ultimately, though, the story is written on the pitch. But I know that Bayern are in excellent mental and physical condition.”
Coman said that he also keeps in touch with several players on the roster.
“I’m still in contact with most of the players. I speak most often with Jo (Kimmich) , Serge (Gnabry) , and the French players – (Dayot) Upamecano and (Michael) Olise – but also with many others from the team. Real friendships have developed, and I’m especially rooting for them now,” said Coman.
When asked what will determine the Champions League tie between the two clubs, Coman gave a pragmatic response.
“Efficiency. At the highest level, that’s usually exactly what it comes down to. Both teams have players of enormous quality, both cover a lot of ground, both can play under pressure and create pressure themselves. These are the two teams playing the most intense and attractive football this season. I don’t believe either team will be completely without opportunities. You also need a bit of luck. But the team that is most determined in the decisive moments and scores from their limited chances will probably advance,” said Coman.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
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