Could this be the catapult to managerial success?
The signing of Vincent Kompany by Bayern Munich as their new manager came as a surprise to many. Although some have praised the Belgian for the way he sets up his teams and playing beautiful football while at Burnley, others criticized him for sticking to a style that did not work for the quality of players he had at Turf Moor.
The critics argued that his attacking style of play led to the club's relegation from the Premier League. That Burnley could have avoided relegation if the manager had been more pragmatic and prioritized defending over all-attack football.
That has left some wondering why a club like Bayern Munich will choose him over other more experienced managers. Pep Guardiola thinks Kompany has what it takes to perform.
The Manchester City manager rates his former captain highly and expects big things from him. Having worked together at the Etihad Stadium for years, both have enjoyed a close relationship for years now. When asked about Kompany's link to Bayern shortly before the appointment was confirmed, Guardiola showered encomiums on the young manager.
"I have a huge opinion about Vinny, doesn't matter the relegation with Burnley. What I felt playing against him and knowing him, I have the highest opinion of his work, personality, his knowledge of the game, how he handles the media," Guardiola said.
The Catalan manager went on to predict that Kompany will come back to Manchester City in future. When asked about the possibility of the City legend one day returning to the club as a manager he was confident that will happen.
"Yes. For sure. He will come," said Guardiola with a smile.
It's quite something for a manager like Guardiola to have so much faith in you. But it's up to the 38-year-old to prove Guardiola right or wrong.
For a club that has very high standards and expects success like a birthright, there will be no hiding place for Kompany at Bayern. How he performs in Germany will go a long way to prove his mettle. His progress in the next few years will determine whether or not there is a future for him at City's dugout.
Source - bitterandblue.sbnation.com