How can Bayern Munich utilize Mathys Tel in Ruckrunde | OneFootball

Mathys Tel was tipped to be the big-name departure from Bayern Munich in January. The French forward has struggled for game time under Vincent Kompany. Several clubs across Europe have shown concrete interest in the French forward. However, the club chiefs and Tel have made a decision to postpone a transfer.

Within the last couple of days, it has been reported that Mathys Tel will stay at Bayern for the rest of the season, after talks with Vincent Kompany, ruling out the possibility of a loan move away, despite a lack of game time so far this campaign.

Bayern to keep Mathys Tel within the first team picture

With Kompany convincing the player to stay, he must see a plan for him for the rest of the season. Let's take a look at how he could be utilized in the final few months of this season.

Last season, we saw Tel score seven Bundesliga goals, whilst providing five assists - despite starting just six games - playing a total of 1040 minutes. Let's review the positions he was playing when he scored those goals.

In the season opener against Werder Bremen, he was playing up front, having come on as a late sub for Harry Kane. He then scored off the left in the win over Borussia Monchengladbach two weeks later, having again come on as a sub.

His next goal came three weeks later, in a win over VFL Bochum at home. In this game, he was playing as a split striker with Kane, with the England captain assisting the goal. This goal was once again from the bench.

In the 2-2 draw against Freiburg in early March, Tel scored his first goal of the season as a starter, where he played on the right-wing. Two weeks later, he returned to scoring off the bench against Darmstadt, where he did so on the right-wing again.

The teeenagers's final two goals of the season were both as starters. First in the win over Union Berlin, where he made it three goals in a row off the right, before a goal in the defeat to Hoffenheim on the final day, where he started as a split striker.

So, to summarise, Tel scored three goals off the right, two as a split striker, one off the left, and one as a lone striker.

This actually tells us what we generally already knew - that Tel is not going to be a regular starter, but can be a prominent squad player across the attack. On the right-hand side, Michael Olise did pick up a couple of injuries last season and is not used to playing two games a week. With Tel, Olise's workload can be managed. If Bayern are winning comfortably in games, give Tel some minutes on that side.

Up front, we saw Kane pick up an injury that saw him only play one game across December. The striker is now into his 30's, and more than most, will need his minutes to be managed. The striker regularly plays 90 minutes, even with comfortable positions in games. Much like with Olise, using Tel would be an opportunity to give Kane rest late in games.

When Bayern need a goal, Kompany can use a front two. The 19-year-old is a better option than Thomas Muller to play alongside a striker. Whilst he is an absolute legend of the club, with him and Kane up front, it feels too similar. Tel would give the option for something different and can combine with the number nine in dangerous areas.

The left-hand side gives him his best opportunity of potentially breaking his way into the starting XI - although Leroy Sane did find some form in December. Whilst Kane, Olise, and Musiala are all world-class footballers, it is quite a ball-to-feet attack, and an outlet such as Tel would complement them well. Kingsley Coman is also an option on the left, but his availability remains a concern due to injury issues.

Again, Sane did find some form, but that spot is not locked down, unlike the other three. The only issue is that Kompany likes to use touchline wingers, with the full-backs tucking inside, which doesn't suit Tel. He could perhaps tweak things and have Davies hold the width, with the Frenchman getting closer to goal alongside other attacking players.

Whatever happens, in a worst case scenario, Bayern stay the same with Tel in the squad. He certainly isn't going to make them any worse. Let's see if he can make them any better.