It’s not often you expect a taxi driver or anyone else to radiate joy at 4:57 a.m. in Schwabing. However, on this particular Monday morning, the driver who took me to Munich Airport was overflowing with enthusiasm for Bavarian football.
“I’m a big fan of this Kompany-Bayern team,” he expressed in German, his appreciation for the local club heightened by its current coach.
Vincent Kompany’s exuberant celebration in front of the Südkurve after Bayern Munich clinched their 34th Bundesliga title (35th overall in German league history) with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Stuttgart was a heartwarming sight. During my commentary duties at the Allianz Arena, I had interviewed him pitchside before the match. While he was his usual affable self, there was also a notable determination to keep sight of the bigger picture in a season with the potential for a treble. He wasn’t keen to discuss a Meisterfeier (celebration party) when so many critical games lie ahead. Yet, he rightfully celebrated after the match, having become the first Bayern coach since Hansi Flick to defend the Bundesliga title successfully.
The sense of Zusammenhalt (solidarity) within this talented multinational squad is evident. I particularly enjoyed that the famous porcelain cockatoo ornament was featured on the white T-shirts that Bayern’s staff prepared for the post-match festivities.
The cockatoo became a symbol of last season’s triumph after it was moved from its previous home at the Käfer restaurant, which hosted the players’ victory dinner. The quirky humor surrounding such an unusual object strengthens their team spirit. Now, this ornament has become part of Bayern’s folklore, though it’s rumored that midfielder Leon Goretzka, who is set to leave the club this summer, might want to take it with him to his next team.
The cockatoo is now firmly associated with “Mia san mia” and the chapters of Kompany’s tenure, with more intriguing stories yet to unfold this season. Hence, the Sunday night celebration was quite subdued, lacking the traditional Weissbierduschen (wheat beer showers) on the pitch. Those can be saved for the final league game against FC Cologne on May 16.
Bayern’s upcoming DFB-Pokal semifinal against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday won’t be a walk in the park. Since their last cup victory in 2020, the competition has posed significant challenges for Bayern. Furthermore, a tricky two-legged tie against Paris Saint-Germain awaits them in the UEFA Champions League semifinals, with Kompany serving a touchline ban for the first leg.
However, throughout Bayern’s Bundesliga season, it rarely felt like they were truly under pressure. They made a bold statement by starting the campaign with a 6-0 dismantling of RB Leipzig. Bayern’s performances against the top teams in the league were particularly impressive, managing to best all current top five teams both at home and away.
Opposing coaches were well aware of Bayern’s ability to unleash their attacking prowess at any moment. With 109 goals and counting, they have already outscored the legendary 1971-72 team, whose record stood until just last week. It’s easy to envision Kompany’s squad eclipsing a scoring record that could endure for ages.
The attacking trio of Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and Luis Díaz has made a significant impact on opponents, boasting an impressive 95 goal involvements among them. Unfortunately, Serge Gnabry is likely out for the season due to an abductor injury, casting a shadow over his World Cup aspirations.
Bayern’s recent signings have all proven to be remarkable successes. Díaz, center-back Jonathan Tah, and midfielder Tom Bischof fit seamlessly into the Bayern philosophy.
As the future of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer remains uncertain, with a strong chance he will extend his contract for another year, there are positive signs regarding backup Jonas Urbig. It was a strategic move by Kompany to allow him to start against Stuttgart, and it seems likely he will feature in more Bundesliga matches leading up to the Meisterschale presentation.
Bayern does not operate a traditional ‘B team’; nearly every position boasts quality and depth. Kompany believes it’s less about rotation and more about leveraging his squad to its fullest potential on any given day.
While Goretzka and fullback Raphaël Guerreiro are set to depart (along with striker Nicolas Jackson), the core of the team will remain strong, allowing Bayern fans to eagerly anticipate another season of captivating, winning football.
Everyone is free to share their opinions about the quality of their domestic opponents. Nevertheless, we cannot overlook Bayern in their current form. This is one of the finest iterations of the Rekordmeister that I have ever witnessed.