FC Bayern’s injury list is thinning out and at the same time the tension surrounding the German record champions‘ personnel planning is growing. After Hiroki Ito, Alphonso Davies is the next long-term injured player to make his comeback – a moment that coach Vincent Kompany has been waiting months for. At the same time, he now faces a real luxury problem, which he warmly welcomes
After almost ten months, Alphonso Davies‘ time of suffering comes to an end tonight. The Canadian suffered a cruciate ligament rupture in March and is now back in the German record champions‘ squad for the first time
He will at least be on the bench for the Champions League match against Sporting Lisbon, as the 25-year-old revealed in an interview with the Canadian sports channel TSN. „I’m glad to be back now and that my leg is holding up well. I’ll be on the bench. I don’t know yet whether I’ll get any playing time, that’s up to the coach,“ said Davies, who has been one of Munich’s defining figures on the left flank for years
Kompany welcomes the new competition
His return is part of a positive development at Säbener Straße. After Hiroki Ito, the second long-term injured player is now celebrating his comeback. Jamal Musiala is set to follow in January. Internally, the three returnees have long been regarded as „genuine new additions“ – a signal of how much their absence has challenged the squad in the first half of the season
While the fans are delighted with the return of the stars, Vincent Kompany faces the next tactical challenge. In recent months, the Belgian has managed to consistently integrate all players – whether regulars or rotation players – and thus create a remarkable squad balance. The return of Davies and other key players changes the statics of the team, but Kompany remains calm
Ahead of the clash against Sporting Lisbon, the head coach made it clear that he will not be changing his strategy. „It always depends on the form of the players or the opponent, it changes. I don’t talk much about it, it’s always about trusting the boys. If we win, it’s about personnel, that’s okay. I like that. We have competition and I like that situation,“ explained Kompany
„There was always rotation“
Serge Gnabry also underlined how important internal competition is for Bayern’s success – and that it is part of the club’s identity. „There’s always been rotation, there always will be when you have so many games. Things are going well at the moment, even if we rotate. It’s been different in the past. It’s very important that everyone stays in rhythm. Our squad isn’t oversized, so it’s important that everyone keeps going.“
The fact that Davies is now returning reinforces the already high intensity in FCB’s performance structure. For Kompany, this is precisely a central component of his philosophy: competition invigorates the team – and ensures that Bayern remain competitive in all competitions in the long term.