Tom Bischof has been one of the standout performers in FC Bayern’s preseason so far. The 21-year-old took advantage of the absence of numerous World Cup participants and most recently impressed in the 2-1 win over Aston Villa. Of particular interest: Bischof is expected to see increased playing time in his preferred position in central midfield going forward. This puts added pressure on Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic.
While Kimmich and Pavlovic were only gradually reintegrated into team training after their extended World Cup break, Bischof was able to take full advantage of the entire preseason. Against Aston Villa, the German U-21 national team player was once again one of Munich’s standout performers.
Following Leon Goretzka’s departure, a spot in central midfield has also opened up. Bischof makes no secret of the fact that he wants to seize this opportunity. “I know I’m being considered for the ‘six’ position, for the center,” the 21-year-old recently explained. At the same time, he emphasized that he remains available for other roles.
Pressure on Kimmich and Pavlovic is mounting
This creates a comfortable situation for Vincent Kompany. If the Belgian continues to rely primarily on a double-six, three top-class players—Kimmich, Pavlovic, and Bischof—will be competing for two positions.
Kimmich is likely to be a sure starter for now, given his standing. Pavlovic has also earned a high standing for himself in recent years. Nevertheless, Bischof could be much more than just a backup player.
Above all, the enormous number of competitive matches suggests that Kompany will rotate his lineup regularly. If Bischof continues to deliver strong performances, he could very well find himself in the starting lineup more often.
Bischof is ready to take on the competition
The 21-year-old himself is by no means shying away from competing with his high-profile teammates. “In the center, Pavlo, Jo Kimmich, and I push each other to be better. Everyone wants to play; that makes us all better and helps the whole team,” he explained.
Bischof added confidently: “I definitely believe I’m up to the task.”
At the start of the season, there are strong indications that Kimmich and Pavlovic will have the edge for now. However, during preseason, Bischof made it clear that the two national team players cannot be certain of their starting spots in the long run.
For Kompany, this is a very welcome development: Instead of losing quality following Goretzka’s departure, a new three-way battle for starting spots could emerge in Bayern’s midfield.