Brad Friedel believes Vincent Kompany should have some breathing room at Bayern Munich, even if the Champions League does not ultimately end with the trophy coming back to Bavaria.
There is always pressure at Bayern Munich. The club is expected to dominate the Bundesliga, and the Champions League is naturally where the expectations become even greater. For supporters and the board, European success is the ultimate measuring stick.
But according to Friedel, simply failing to win the Champions League
should not automatically put Kompany’s job in danger.
The former United States goalkeeper believes the circumstances surrounding a potential elimination matter just as much as the result itself. A disappointing early exit would understandably raise questions, but losing a dramatic tie against one of Europe’s best teams is an entirely different situation.
“There’s pressure anytime you’re at Bayern or PSG. Every now and again Leipzig or Dortmund push Bayern in the Bundesliga, but by and large Bayern are expected to dominate. Real Madrid and Barcelona face the same expectations, with only clubs like Atletico Madrid or Valencia occasionally challenging them. Because of that, the Champions League is massive for the board and supporters,” Friedel told Jackpot City Casino. “If Bayern don’t win it, there will naturally be pressure on Vincent Kompany, and he knows that. But it’s always about the manner in which you lose. Their two legs against PSG, especially the first leg, was one of the most magnificent games of football I’ve ever watched. If that happens in a semi-final, would you fire a manager for that? No, in my opinion. It was two heavyweights going blow for blow.
“The front three for both Bayern and PSG rated over 8.2 on match data, which rarely happens in top-level matches. If they were to go out 4-0 on aggregate in the round of 16, I could understand the board making a change, but not if they reach the semi-finals and lose a thriller against another top side.”
Friedel pointed specifically to Bayern Munich’s memorable Champions League meetings with Paris Saint-Germain as an example of the type of defeat that should not lead to a managerial change. Those matches were played at an incredibly high level, with both teams producing outstanding attacking performances.
That distinction could become particularly important if Bayern Munich makes another deep run under Kompany.
If Bayern Munich reaches the semifinals and goes out in a thrilling, closely contested battle against another European heavyweight, Friedel does not believe the board should view that as a reason to move on from Kompany. There is a significant difference between being outclassed and simply losing a great football match.
At the same time, Friedel acknowledges that patience has its limits. An ugly 4-0 aggregate elimination in the round of 16 would create a completely different conversation.
For Kompany, then, the Champions League objective is not necessarily as simple as win it or get fired. The manner of the performance could ultimately determine how much pressure he faces.
And considering the level of competition Bayern Munich will encounter in Europe, that could be an important distinction for the Belgian coach.
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