FC Bayern are on the verge of making Bundesliga history. With a win in Cologne on Wednesday evening, the Munich club could crown a first half of the season the likes of which the German record champions have never seen before. 47 points after 17 games, plus a goal difference that currently stands at 63:12 – no team has ever been better. Even the legendary Guardiola team from the 2013/14 season would be surpassed statistically. But Vincent Kompany, of all people, wants nothing to do with that
At the press conference before the Cologne game, the 39-year-old made it clear that he has no interest in personal records or historical comparisons. „I don’t want to compare myself – it’s impossible to compare yourself to Pep. That’s a losing battle right from the start!“, Kompany made unmistakably clear. Statements that are emblematic of the Bayern coach’s management style, which consistently steers the focus away from his own name
Kompany went even further and explained why he fundamentally dislikes personal statistics. „When you say my points tally – that’s not my points tally, that’s the players‘! It’s the players who have achieved that. It’s the players who score the goals,“ the Belgian emphasised. For him, it is completely irrelevant whether his name appears next to a record. The only thing that matters is the development of the team
This attitude is no coincidence: Kompany referred to his own career, the promotions, relegations and title wins that have shaped him. „I’ve still been in this process for three and a half years now,“ he explained openly. The coach sees soccer as a long-term journey – not as a stage for personal comparisons
Respect for Guardiola – and clear boundaries
It is no coincidence that Pep Guardiola, of all people, is repeatedly used as a reference. Kompany was head of defence and captain under the Spaniard at Manchester City for many years. Guardiola’s influence on Kompany’s coaching mindset is considered enormous, partly due to their time together at the highest level. Nevertheless, the Bayern coach consciously draws a line. Guardiola is unique, his career cannot be reproduced – and that is precisely why Kompany rejects any comparisons
While Bayern are rushing from victory to victory, the competition is already beginning to capitulate. Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac openly declared: „I don’t think we can attack Bayern, everyone can see that.“ A statement that clearly reflects the current shift in power in the Bundesliga
Bayern urge caution despite comfortable position
In Munich itself, however, they don’t want to hear any of this. Sporting director Christoph Freund reacted to the statements from Dortmund in an emphatically sober manner. „We can’t influence what others say. We have to look at ourselves,“ said Freund on Tuesday morning. Although FC Bayern are playing „a really, really good season“ so far and are in „good shape“, they don’t believe in premature euphoria at Säbener Straße
The title is still a long way off, emphasised Freund, but it is more about confirming the very good starting position and continuing to work consistently. If Bayern manage another three-pointer in Cologne, it would still be more than just another win. It would be the best first half of the season of all time – and another step towards the 35th championship title in the club’s history
With or without a record, with or without Guardiola’s comparison: Kompany remains true to his line. And this attitude is possibly one of the main reasons why FC Bayern is currently so stable, so dominant and so united.