"Come on, lads!": Kompany frustrated by Bayern rotation debate | OneFootball

Following the 4:1 win in Hoffenheim, Kompany explains his rotation at FC Bayern - and reacts annoyed to questions.

FC Bayern has achieved the best season start in Bundesliga history with a 4:1 victory at TSG Hoffenheim. Despite the record win, much of the post-match focus was on Vincent Kompany's personnel decisions. The Bayern coach had ordered five new players into the starting lineup compared to the Champions League victory over FC Chelsea.

Among others, super talent Lennart Karl and newcomer Nicolas Jackson were on the field from the start, while stars like Joshua Kimmich, Dayot Upamecano, and Michael Olise initially got a break. For Kompany, this was a logical measure - but for many observers, it was a reason for questions.

"To be honest, I'm surprised how often I get asked this question. Come on, guys! We're in the year 2025. I think everyone understands by now that it's very important to use the squad and not wait until things go downhill before you do that," the 39-year-old made clear at the press conference.

Rotation as a key in intense weeks

Photo: Getty Images

The Belgian's clear response underscores his philosophy: to involve the entire squad at a high level, rather than overloading individual players. Especially with a view to the tightly scheduled English weeks, targeted rotation is not an experiment for Kompany, but a necessity.

Especially in defense, he lacks alternatives anyway. With Alphonso Davies, Hiroki Ito, and Josip Stanisic, three left-backs are out. Minjae Kim and Sacha Boey were substituted against Hoffenheim due to injuries.

The offense, on the other hand, offers more room: Newcomer Jackson and talent Karl were able to give established forces like Olise and Serge Gnabry breaks before both were later substituted.

Kompany's plan also worked in Hoffenheim: Harry Kane scored a hat-trick, Gnabry hit the final score after his substitution. The record champion remains undefeated - and Kompany sees his rotation strategy confirmed.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.