Is Vincent Kompany providing a glimpse into football after Pep Guardiola?

There have been issues amongst followers this season that the sport’s high groups, confronted with cussed man-to-man defensive set-ups, are taking a much less dangerous method in assault.

However Kompany’s Bayern lean into that danger, taking part in freely each out and in of possession. They typically dominate, and are thrilling to look at – an method that includes all 11 gamers and begins proper from the again.

Within the Champions League final 16, Bayern confronted an Atalanta aspect who opted to man-mark throughout the pitch. So Kompany rotated his gamers round, dragging opposition defenders out of place.

As an illustration, attacking midfielder Serge Gnabry ceaselessly dropped into centre-back positions to get on the ball. His Atalanta marker adopted him. That opened up area for Gnabry’s team-mates. In consequence, Atalanta ended up with attackers in defence and defenders in assault. Bayern Munich gained 10-2 on mixture.

Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti was significantly impressed, noting Bayern’s fluidity. In his phrases: “They confirmed us a complete encyclopedia of motion and positioning in soccer.”