Vincent Kompany discusses Thomas Müller’s impact ahead of Borussia Dortmund clash | OneFootball

Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich enter a massively important league showdown with Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. The fact that the record champions are coming off a disappointing performance in the Champions League midweek didn’t concern head coach Vincent Kompany too much. The Belgian referenced previous instances in which the German giants were able to bounce back.

A 1-2 league defeat against Mainz in December was followed up by a 5-1 thrashing of Leipzig. After being upset by Bochum in the league in early March, Kompany’s men quickly rebounded to dispatch fellow defending Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.

“It doesn’t feel like a defeat yet,” Kompany said of Tuesday’s loss. “We’re not lacking in energy or motivation and are probably at our most dangerous in these moments [after a defeat].”

When it comes to what sort of lineup Kompany will field against Dortmund, Kompany said he “didn’t expect to make many changes to the squad”. Aleksandar Pavlovic, Kingsley Coman, and Manuel Neuer are all on the mend from injuries, but the FCB head coach only noted that today’s training performances would dictate whether or not they would play.

Kompany also commented on a controversial substitution call he made in Tuesday’s defeat and reflected on the role of Thomas Müller in the Inter match. Expected to start in the ten slot, Müller instead began the game on the bench whilst Raphaël Guerreiro worked in the high second axis midfield position.

Müller – who had promised a commanding performance – made a huge impact after being subbed on in the 74th minute, scoring in the 85th minute. Bayern might have escaped with a draw had Davide Frattesi not scored the 1-2 in the 89th minute.

“One can interpret substitutions two different ways,” Kompany said. “A player [Müller] came in and scored a goal. A player [Konrad Laimer] who moved from right-back to left-back [after the introduction of Sacha Boey for Min-Jae Kim alongside Müller for Leroy Sané in the 74th] and provided the cross that assisted [Müller’s goal].

“There’s going to be ‘games with the names’,” Kompany continued. “You can either say that the substitution was a good choice from the coach or you can ask, ‘why didn’t he [Müller] start? When it comes to ‘games with the names’, one must accept that people will construct their own narrative. People think in their own ways.”

“I’m not looking to interpret what people say,” Kompany concluded. “All I know is that we responded to adversity before the game and we had plenty of chances in that game. Our job is to draw the energy from that game and perform better in the next game. We have to band together. We need all of our players. We lost then. Tomorrow we have a chance to win.”

“It was a wonderful moment for all of us when he came on against Inter and scored the goal,” Kompany added when asked about Müller again later. “I’m glad he had that much of an impact on the game.”

Kompany was still pressed by reporters about a potential Müller start against Dortmund. Presented with the fact that Müller scored his first two Bundesliga goals against Dortmund on matchday 5 of the 2009/10 season, Kompany remained tight lipped.

“I’m not that surprised,” the coach said of the fact. “but I think, like any sensible person here, that the topic is tomorrow’s game.“

GGFN | Peter Weis