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BERLIN: Bayern Munich kick off the Bundesliga campaign at Wolfsburg on Sunday with new coach Vincent Kompany in the spotlight as he looks to lead the club back to the top of German football.
The Bavarians, who once held the record for German championships and are the country’s richest club, were upstaged last season by Bayer Leverkusen, who won the domestic league and cup double unbeaten.
Former Belgium international Kompany replaced Thomas Tuchel as coach and has been working to restore order to the Bayern squad and boost confidence among his players.
“Last year they had the same team quality, but the communication between coach and players was not perfect,” former Bayern and Germany captain Lothar Matthaus said at an international media roundtable earlier this week.
“Bayern means ‘we are a family’ and we have to live that up day in and day out. Kompany is a coach who can bring that back to the team.”
Bayern spent about 100 million euros ($111 million) to bring in winger Michael Olise from Crystal Palace and defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha from Fulham.
They also signed defender Hiroki Ito from Stuttgart to strengthen their defense, which conceded many goals during last season’s title-less record.
“I have a positive feeling about the team, they seem inspired again and ready to attack again,” Bayern sporting director Max Eberl said.
But Leverkusen have largely kept the team intact and retained head coach Xabi Alonso, so they will not give in easily.
The never-say-die attitude that saw them excel last season was on display again on Saturday as they scored the equalising goal in the German Super Cup against Stuttgart before clinching the title on penalties.
“There is less pressure on Leverkusen this season than on Munich,” said Matthaus.
“Leverkusen don’t have to win. Bayern’s performance over the past two seasons has been not only to win but also to perform well. That’s the pressure.”
Leverkusen will play away against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Friday, officially kicking off the Bundesliga season.
For last season’s unexpected runner-up Stuttgart, this season’s journey may be even tougher than last season, as they have lost Ito to Bayern, while top scorer Serhu Guirassi and defender Waldemar Anton have both been lost to Dortmund.
The arrival of German internationals Anton, Pascal Gross and Maximilian Beier could restore Dortmund to title contention, although they must hope Guirassy can fill the void left by Niclas Fuellkrug’s move to West Ham United.
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