At 39-years-old, Manuel Neuer is often the oldest player on the field. Within the Bayern Munich locker room, that also applies to the manager. Neuer is a whooping two weeks older than Vincent Kompany.
However, it is common for professional athletes to disrespect younger coaches who have not earned their stripes.
Kompany is only in his sixth year as a manager with mixed results along the way. During his tenure at Bayern, Kompany has consistently earned praise from players and upper management for his communication skills and ability to stay the course through thick and thin times.
“He knows the game with the media because he was a player himself at a big club and also has experience as a manager, so he knows how to handle it,” said Neuer (via @iMiaSanMia). “He’s very open and clear with us. He knows how we want to play and he tries to bring our strengths into the game. He gives us the tools we need and it’s also good that young players are being integrated, as well as players who might not have been on anyone’s radar previously.”
One of the biggest knocks on Kompany’s first season at Bayern was the lack of minutes for the young players, especially out of the academy. In his second season, Lennart Karl has burst into the starting lineup and Aleksandar Pavlović has cemented his spot as well.
Neuer added that “the playing style and philosophy work so well that we are able to rotate players, especially with our midweek fixtures. It’s important that the players deliver when they are called upon and that has always been the case up until now. You can see that we are taking on board what the coach is telling us.”
As the season drags on through the winter months, Kompany will need to continue to press the right buttons to keep his players healthy, motivated, and in top playing form.
