FC Bayern kicks off its Audi Summer Tour to Asia on Saturday—though without many of its star players. While part of the squad is in South Korea and Hong Kong putting the finishing touches on their preparations for the new season, several key players are working on their comebacks in Munich. Upon their return, however, Vincent Kompany is likely to face a real luxury problem.
With Michael Olise, Harry Kane, and Dayot Upamecano, three key players are still on vacation following the World Cup. Meanwhile, Jamal Musiala, Serge Gnabry, Lennart Karl, and summer signing Ismael Saibari are staying at Säbener Straße to fully recover from their injuries.
Despite these high-profile absences, Kompany already has a star-studded roster at his disposal. In the 15-0 friendly victory over FC Rottach-Egern, the lineup included Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, Jonathan Tah, Alphonso Davies, Nathaniel Brown, Min-jae Kim, Aleksandar Pavlovic, and Tom Bischof were on the field. Once all the national team players return, competition within the Bayern squad will reach a whole new level.
Numerous stars are vying for a starting spot
Nearly every position on the team has multiple top-tier options. Especially in the attacking department, Vincent Kompany will have a wealth of talent to draw from in the future.
At the playmaker position, Jamal Musiala, Michael Olise, Serge Gnabry, Lennart Karl, and Ismael Saibari are just a few of the players available to fill that role. There is also intense competition on the wings and in central midfield.
For Kompany, this situation is a clear advantage. The Belgian has significantly more tactical options and can flexibly adjust his starting lineup depending on the opponent. At the same time, every player knows that strong performances in training will be a prerequisite for regular playing time.
Musiala needs to return to his former form
Special attention is nevertheless focused on Jamal Musiala. The 23-year-old is working on his comeback after the metal plate in his left foot was removed and, according to sporting director Max Eberl, is expected to rejoin team training after the Asian tour.
“Jamal will be available again after the tour,” Eberl recently explained. At the same time, the Bayern boss acknowledged that the national team player has not yet returned to his usual level following his injuries: “He’s lost a bit of his lightness, even though his stats aren’t bad. He’s missing those magical moments a bit.”
In addition to Musiala, Serge Gnabry, Lennart Karl, and Ismael Saibari are also expected to be available in time for the start of the season. This not only boosts the quality of the roster but also increases the pressure on every single player.
For Kompany, this marks the start of the decisive phase of preseason. While the team continues to work on its systems in Asia, the missing key players are gradually getting closer to their comebacks. Once the entire squad is available, it will become clear who comes out on top in the internal competition. One thing is already clear: competition for starting spots at FC Bayern hasn’t been this fierce in a long time.