Vincent Kompany gives Harry Kane & Co 'more freedom than Pep Guardiola' as Bayern Munich legend Philipp Lahm urges club not to sack Belgian boss

That is the opinion of club legend Philipp Lahm, who worked under the most demanding of Catalan coaches at the Allianz Arena. Considerable success was enjoyed across three years with Guardiola at the helm, with the current Manchester City boss famed for his relentless pursuit of perfection.

Kompany, who captained Premier League giants City under Guardiola’s tutelage, is now calling the shots in Munich. He appears to be on course to recapture the Bundesliga title, but questions are being asked of whether the 38-year-old will make it beyond one full season in the dugout.

Lahm has told The Athletic of Kompany’s methods, with there still room for improvement: "It is obvious that Kompany was influenced by his former coach, Guardiola, who revolutionised modern possession football. Guardiola paid attention to absolutely everything in training. He was like a composer obsessed with every note that his orchestra played and would make his view clear to everyone about everything.

"Kompany is not a copy; every student goes their own way. He also favours possession and wants to dominate the game. His Bayern team defend courageously man-to-man, which means a high level of risk. However, he seems to give his players more freedom than Guardiola.

"The defence has stabilised under Kompany. In recent years, there has been a lack of concentration, no clear hierarchy among the players and many goals conceded. Now Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-jae seem to form a secure duo. Joshua Kimmich’s role in central midfield is also more clearly defined. Kompany’s signature is evident in his organisation, but also in his patience when playing with the ball.

"Does his attacking style work at the highest level? There is still a lack of evidence. His team have difficulties with their overall balance and a few areas are not operating yet at the highest level. The midfield, for example, is susceptible to counter attacks. The possession can often be too slow, the progress towards goal is sometimes indecisive, and there is a lack of penetration in that final third, where attacks too often break down."

Lahm added on the debate regarding the Belgian’s future: "Kompany needs time and support, and Bayern is not an easy club to work for given the need for success in the short term. After all, the last coach to stay longer than three years was Hitzfeld. That’s the downside of being a players’ club. But I trust him to develop the team and refine his playing ideas. He has the tools to succeed."

Kompany signed a three-year contract with Bayern following his appointment in the summer of 2024. He has won 26 of his 36 games in charge, as England striker Kane closes in on his first piece of silverware, but whether that record is enough to keep him in the most demanding of roles remains to be seen.