Insights: Kompany’s rotation is an opportunity for the whole of FC Bayern | OneFootball

FC Bayern won clearly against Borussia Mönchengladbach on the 25th Bundesliga matchday. FCBinside provides three insights into the game

Bayern had no problems with Gladbach and won 4:1. The game provided the following insights

1. Kompany rotates masterfully

The championship is out of Bayern’s grasp, now the decisive duels in the Champions League and DFB Cup are on the horizon. Coach Vincent Kompany is therefore well advised to give the players in his first eleven regular breaks to keep the competition alive throughout the squad. Kompany is currently mastering this task brilliantly

Against Gladbach, the 39-year-old made seven changes to his starting eleven compared to the win in Dortmund and it worked: the new players did not disappoint Kompany, the team or the fans. Minjae Kim had a good game in central defence and Tom Bischof did well at left-back. Leon Goretzka came in for Aleksandar Pavlovic in central midfield and came up trumps. The German international set up Luis Diaz’s goal to make it 1-0 in a dream move. Jamal Musiala needed a little time to get going, but then coolly converted the penalty to make it 3-0. Lennart Karl impressed on the right side of the attack after two games on the bench against Gladbach

Before the game, the question was who would replace the ailing Harry Kane. Many had expected Serge Gnabry to play up front, but Kompany put his trust in Nicolas Jackson. The Senegalese paid him back: he took the penalty from Musiala, scored the 4-0 himself and initiated the 2-0 through Laimer on a counter-attack

After the game, Kompany was even compared to an old master, with sporting director Max Eberl seeing parallels to Ottmar Hitzfeld, who also coached Bayern to Champions League triumph in 2001 with clever rotation. For Bayern today, the first leg of the last 16 of the Champions League at Atalanta Bergamo awaits on Tuesday. Then probably with some recovered regular players – thanks to Kompany’s clever rotation

2. A chance for the whole of FC Bayern

The Belgian’s rotation not only has positive effects in the short term, it is also an opportunity for FC Bayern as a whole

The record champions have identified a new youth style as the answer to the transfer and consultant madness of recent years. The aim is to create more permeability for talented players from the club’s own campus right through to the professional team

Pavlovic and Karl have shown that this can work, but the youngsters need match practice at a high level and also need to get a taste of the big stage

Like Maycon Cardozo against Gladbach. The fact that the 17-year-old, who had just signed a new Bayern contract this week, was even in the squad against Borussia was a big surprise. The fact that the Brazilian, who grew up in Thailand, was substituted by Kompany in the 61st minute was a real sensation. For Cardozo, his appearance in the sold-out Allianz Arena must have felt like a fairytale

Stories like this are only possible if a Bayern coach dares to throw young talent in at the deep end. And, of course, if the situation in the league makes it possible. Both conditions are currently in place and Bayern can therefore hope for new top talent

Towards the end of the game, 19-year-old David Santos Daiber was also substituted, another talent that Munich are very keen on

Kompany’s rotation could produce more stories like this in the near future

3. Question mark behind Neuer

One fly in the ointment against Gladbach was the situation surrounding Manuel Neuer. The goalkeeper was without work in the first half against the harmless Borussians and was then surprisingly substituted at the break. Jonas Urbig came on in his place

Neuer was recently ruled out due to problems in his calf. Now it seems to have tweaked again. Kompany explained after the game: „He felt something in his calf. It’s obviously very short-term until the next game.“ Whether Neuer will be able to play in Bergamo on Tuesday is therefore highly questionable

photo: IMAGO

„I can’t say, I don’t have a fresh update. Maybe it’s just a hardening,“ said Eberl, when asked about the severity of Neuer’s injury

It would be bitter for Bayern if they had to do without their regular keeper and captain in the clash with Atalanta, but they have usually been able to rely on deputy Urbig, the youngster has the trust of the coach and those in charge, and because of Neuer’s problems it is quite possible that Kompany will have to rotate unintentionally in goal this time.