Trouble at Bayern? Players 'surprised' by new boss Vincent Kompany's methods despite bright start to season

The Bavarians have made a perfect start to their campaign and their latest thumping 9-2 victory over Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League indicates that the team is heading in the right direction. Despite the positive start, it seems that trouble is brewing inside the Allianz Arena dressing room.

According to Kicker, several Bayern players have raised concerns about the lack of clarity in Kompany’s decisions on the lineup, with some feeling that the 38-year-old coach's communication style leaves much to be desired. It is reported that Kompany informed the matchday lineup via WhatsApp, just one day before their Bundesliga fixture against Holstein Kiel, which ended in a 6-1 victory for Bayern. While the result was positive, how players were informed about their playing status reportedly left some feeling unsettled.

Several key figures like Aleksandar Pavlovic, Mathys Tel, and Michael Olise, who had all played key roles in the previous 2-0 victory against SC Freiburg, found themselves starting on the bench with Sacha Boey, Joao Palhinha, and Kingsley Coman brought into the lineup. What made Kompany’s choices even more surprising was his decision to leave out seasoned stars like Thomas Muller, Leroy Sane, and Alphonso Davies from the starting XI. Whereas, Leon Goretzka was not even included in the matchday squad for the game.

It is common for managers to rotate squads in the early part of the season to keep players fresh, but the abruptness and uncertainty surrounding the selections have caused unrest. Bayern do have a deep squad and intense competition for places, but even seasoned professionals are used to a more transparent approach when it comes to lineup decisions. Their next test comes in the Bundesliga on Saturday when they face Werder Bremen.