As clubs increasingly turn to data in their search for a head coach, we run the rule over new Bayern Munich boss and use Wyscout data to analyze his start to the season.
The Vincent Kompany era at Bayern Munich has got off to an extremely promising start, with the Bavarians sitting pretty atop the Bundesliga standings while playing a tactically sophisticated and attacking brand of football.
While there were many sceptics when the Belgian was hired fresh from suffering relegation with Burnley, Kompany has risen to the occasion admirably to stamp his mark on his new team.
While the critics resurfaced following their rough patch last month, which featured two tough Champions League defeats versus Aston Villa and Barcelona, Kompany's men have bounced back in fine style by winning five consecutive matches since their 4-1 mauling at Montjuic.
Indeed, this has been a real statement that Bayern are going in the right direction, as they've scored 14 goals and conceded zero in this aforementioned stretch.
Implementing his possession based and offensively-geared style successfully from his nominal 4-2-3-1, that often morphs into 4-2-4, 3-4-3, 3-2-5, 3-1-2-4 or 3-1-3-3 animations, Kompany’s team have adapted to his progressive system smoothly.
Bayern's average position map vs Union Berlin - Wyscout Match Report
Wanting his side to control proceedings and dominate their opponents with possession, it's been hugely exciting and entertaining watching them strut their stuff.
"The way that we're playing now is very intense. He picks the best team and the best players to put on the team that train well. Every training session is a battle for the starting spot. Nothing is guaranteed. The way he talks to the team, he is polite, but firm. He has ideas and we're executing them well. He is a very brilliant guy," Alphonso Davies stated.
Starting with the build up, their two, often wide splitting, centre backs and the regularly advanced Manuel Neuer give them a strong base to beat the press by baiting opponents and creating numerical and positional superiorities.
Even though this approach comes with inherent risk if they lose the ball due to the spread out centre halves and higher-than-standard Neuer, the positives far outweigh the negatives. They are masters at opening passing lanes, generating angles and manipulating their foes to get the ball into their tremendously talented midfielders and attackers.
To give them some vital structural security and an overload in the first phase, while also allowing them to push more numbers forward, Joshua Kimmich will frequently drop back into the deep,
wide half space to form a back three. By doing so, opposition pressing schemes are given headaches on whether to leave him or press up and risk leaving gaps for Bayern to exploit.
Bayern's pass connections map vs. Aston Villa - Wyscout Match Report
In such cases, Bayern’s three chain is afforded immense time and space to surge upfield, dictate the play, and execute their passes with clarity.
Bayern’s flexibility has been key. Forever keeping opponents guessing by performing constant rotations, the full-backs will often alternate between staying wide or edging infield and their fluid frontline will relentlessly interchange.
The full-backs' half space positioning also helps with quick ball circulation, ensuring they can maraud ahead to underlap into gaps, causing overloads in midfield, and compounding issues for trackers in regards to who should pick them up.
Shot map graphics from the last 5 Bayern games - Wyscout Team Report
What's more, how Bayern shift into a front five or even six at times allows them to pin back adversaries, outnumber defensive units, and give the ball holder a multitude of options to find. This is especially key when firing deliveries into the box due to them having players at varying heights and depths.
Through passes map from the last 5 Bayern fixtures - Wyscout Team Report
Jamal Musiala and Harry Kane's incisive movement has been a key feature too, as the way they connect attacks between the lines, in the half spaces, out wide, and when dropping deep into central midfield, has been so effective and really helped them breathe life into their forward forays.
It also has the added byproduct of attracting opponents out to manufacture gaps for colleagues to exploit in behind, as these opposite movements can be so hard to stop for back-to-goal defenders. Then, if the stopper doesn't follow them, either can turn and face and charge at backpedalling rearguards.
The wingers’ ability to provide width and depth has been an instrumental aspect as well. Michael Olise especially has relished being able to receive 1v1 situations in a forward-facing posture to instantly take on foes and wreak havoc in the final third with his dribbling wizardry and creative genius.
Dribbling map from the last 5 matches - Wyscout Team Report
A major force to be reckoned with out of possession, their aggressive and intense pressing has successfully stifled opponents from passing out from the back cleanly.
Typically going man-for-man and adhering to Kompany's plans, there's been much to like about their league-leading harrying, with it proving a huge chance creation weapon and allowing them to get at spread out opponent build-up shapes who can't recover in time.
Bundesliga PPDA Rankings - Wyscout Rankings
While the frontline leads the press and the midfielders lock on to their opponents, the defenders have been crucial in getting touch-tight where possible to make life as difficult for their adversaries when controlling the ball or trying to turn and face.
Compressing the pitch with their high line and condensing the available playing area by angling their pressure to use the touchline as an extra defender and cover shadows to block lanes behind them, they've been a huge challenge to confront due to how they hunt their prey assertively and in a calculated manner.
Full of dedication and tenacity when they lose possession, their counterpressing has supplemented the aforementioned beautifully. Swift to react as a collective to regain the ball as quickly as possible so they can immediately win it back to attack again nice and high, this helps them suffocate opponents and not let them gain a foothold or conjure danger with ease.
Recoveries in the final third map from the last 5 Bayern matches - Wyscout Team Report
Indeed, winning the ball high in and around their final third means Bayern’s players can prevent opposition counters from developing, thus eliminating the need to track back as often or as vigorously.
Bayern comfortably the lowest Bundesliga expected goals against - Wyscout Rankings
Although Bayern can be exposed if they get it wrong, it's been impressive to see how they've strangled and swarmed opponents, while also generating openings through this avenue.
Coordinated, intelligent and full of upside in and out of possession, the early signs of Kompany's tenure have been very positive all things considered.
The fact they top a host of metrics, as shown by the numbers in the table below, accentuates how exceptional they've been in the Bundesliga so far this term.
Bayern's season stats so far
Eager to flex their muscles on their adversaries with their entertaining philosophy even if it means leaving space in behind that can leave them exposed in transition, don't expect the Belgian to alter his ways.
As clubs increasingly analyze data and look at a coach’s philosophy and game model, Kompany’s seamless transition and implementation of his playing style highlights the benefits of this recruitment approach.
Defiant in his methods and dedicated to implementing his high-risk, high-reward style, which will inherently take some time, Kompany deserves credit for sticking to his principles, especially given the intense scrutiny the Bayern media impose after any poor result or performance.
Importantly, he has the club hierarchy's backing, something sporting director Max Eberl recently insisted. “We have a new coach, new staff. They have rebuilt a lot. We play football differently, and four months later, to stand here as table toppers is not so bad," he recently commented.
"We are currently in the process of developing something. No development in the world, no era, began with a snap of the fingers. I believe that on every path, there are setbacks. One must accept them and learn from them. Now you can make mistakes. After that, when it is crunch time, we can't make those mistakes anymore.”
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Already constructing an adaptable, thrilling and tactically flexible side, who can hold their own against anyone, his main challenge will be tightening things up at the back while still maintaining ambition and dynamism going forward.
While this will be easier said than done, there's no doubt Kompany will back himself to deliver the goods in his quest for silverware both domestically and in Europe after Bayern went trophyless for the first time in 12 years last season.
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