Freund full of praise for Kompany: “An absolute stroke of good fortune”

Bayern Munich’s sporting director, Christoph Freund, couldn’t be happier with how the decision to appoint Vincent Kompany as coach has turned out.

Bayern Munich took a gamble when they hired Vincent Kompany to replace Thomas Tuchel as coach last summer.

At the time, Kompany had just been relegated from the Premier League with Burnley and had relatively little coaching experience.

But as Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund points out, the Belgian has more than lived up to expectations, with the German giants leading the Bundesliga after 10 games, five points clear of RB Leipzig.

“We are very happy with Vincent. We discussed a lot of names together, then we met him twice and it worked out. It was certainly a bold decision, but anyone who knows me knows that I like that sort of thing. Bayern are a step up, but he was and is an absolute stroke of fortune. He’s a hard worker and above all he brings this positive energy, he’s an absolute team player,” Freund told ORF.

“A lot is possible, we have high quality, a great spirit, the energy between the coaching staff and the team is very good and I also like the football we play. The football is very active, with pressing and counter-pressing. Everyone can see and feel that we want to play our football.”

There is a special incentive this season: winning the Champions League final at home at the Allianz Arena.

“We know the final is in Munich. But it’s only November, it’s still a long way off and we know how close things can get in this competition,” said Freund.

The desire to win Europe’s premier club competition on home soil will be even greater given the painful defeat on penalties to Chelsea in the 2011/12 season, the last time the final was played at the Allianz Arena.

“I was in the stadium that time. It was one of the most bitter and undeserved defeats. I was sitting up there under the roof, still so far away, and now I’m right in the middle of it. It’s very special.”