Kompany just wants fit squad for stretch run (ESPN’s Archie Rhind-Tutt)
After Bayern Munich’s 5-0 victory over VfB Stuttgart, head coach Vincent Kompany was asked by ESPN sideline reporter Archie Rhind-Tutt about the team about his rotations and plans for keeping the team healthy.
“The biggest thing is to have the squad fit for the important moments. For that moment, we’ll share the load but we’ll also share the consequences if it doesn’t work out one day,” said Kompany.
Kompany has been better with rotation than last season, but he still has a long way to go to really
get where he needs to be — especially with what many consider to be a thin roster.
With Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies coming back, the rotation should be becomes easier to do in some ways, but it also gets more complex in others. How can Kompany continue to find minutes for young players like Karl, who could be the team’s No. 5 attacker, or Tom Bischof, who is likely the No. 4 central midfielder? It will not be easy when trying to appease some of the big egos involves in those areas of the squad.
Defensively, Kompany has been far better this season with his rotations, but he is very reliant on Konrad Laimer, Dayot Upamecano, and Jonathan Tah. To keep them fresh and healthy, the coach will need to sit them down — sometimes against good competition.
The end goal for all of this is to win as many trophies as possible, but you have to step to the plate before you can swing the bat. Let’s hope, Kompany is continuing to embrace the need to trust his bench and rest his most valuable players.
Martínez on Barca’s list (ESPN)
It seems inevitable that Harry Kane will at least play out his current deal with Bayern Munich, so FC Barcelona will have to look elsewhere — maybe even over to Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martínez:
Barcelona are considering Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martínez and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane as the Blaugrana make signing a top-class striker one of their priorities for the summer, according to Rudy Galetti. Despite that intent, Marca reports that Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez won’t be among those considered by the Catalan club. The 25-year-old had been club president Joan Laporta’s dream signing but his performance in Barça’s 3-1 win over Atleti fell short of expectations, and it is also felt that the Argentina international’s valuation is too high.
Bayern has big competition on Smit (ESPN)
If Bayern Munich wants to get midfielder Kees Smit, it will have to battle Chelsea, Liverpool, Real Madrid, and FC Barcelona:
Atalanta and Como are interested in AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit, reports Calciomercato, but they will face competition from the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona. The 19-year-old’s contract runs until 2028 and his transfer is valued at €20 million. Smit has stepped up to the senior game after winning the U19 Euros and UEFA Youth League, while Como will point to their work with former Real Madrid playmaker Nico Paz as they try to beat the big names to his signature.
Freund touts Nübel (@iMiaSanMia)
Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund talked over where the club stands with Alexander Nübel, the on-loan goalie at VfB Stuttgart, who put in a stinker on Saturday.
“He’s our goalkeeper, he’s having a good season, he’s developed even further, and he’s certainly one of the best goalkeepers in Germany. We’re very happy that we’re well-equipped for the time after Manuel Neuer. When the time comes, we’ll decide how to proceed,” Freund said.
As it stands, it seems hard to think that Nübel will jump over Urbig in the Bayern Munich organizational pecking order.
Peretz unhappy with loan (Sport Bild via @iMiaSanMia)
Bayern Munich loanee Daniel Peretz was expecting to be the No. 1 goalkeeper with Hamburger SV this season.
That has not happened.
“I expected to be number one. That hasn’t been the case so far. Of course, I’m not happy about it. I make no secret of that. I think no footballer is happy when he’s not playing. My goal remains to play every game. I came to HSV to play as many matches as possible. I’m accepting the situation now, taking it one game at a time, training hard, and trying to give my best every day – to make it as difficult as possible for the coaching staff,” Peretz said.
It would not be shocking if Peretz exits his loan early in hopes of finding a better landing spot.
City leading on Guéhi? (Football Insider)
Manchester City could be a darkhorse candidate for land Crystal Palace center-back Marc Guéhi, who has been closely linked to Bayern Munich and Liverpool:
Man City are in pole position to sign Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi as they explore a replacement for John Stones.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that Liverpool will now not sign the 25-year-old.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes it would be a good deal for Man City to sign Guehi.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks that the England international has dealt with his situation at Crystal Palace well.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I think it does make sense for City. This one actually makes more sense than [Antoine] Semenyo to me and I think that that’s where he may well end up.
“I think Liverpool have got themselves in such a bind over the Konate issue, the Marc Guehi thing will unfortunately fade away for them. I thought at the time, you know in the summer he would have been the perfect replacement as we’ve discussed. So I think, yes, I think that he will end up at City and I think that’s where I expect him to be. There is a lot of interest but I think he’s actually shown me that he’s actually thought things through and acted quite sensibly and taken some decent advice. He handled the Palace thing quite well. And so I would expect him to move to City and I think he would be a great replacement, basically for John Stones is what we’re thinking about now.”
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