Klopp dropped by Säbener Strasse on the opening Bundesliga weekend after Bayern Munich’s 5-1 win against VfB Stuttgart. According to Sport Bild, he then held a lengthy conversation with Kompany in his office.
The discussion is said to have centred in part on a basic tactical question. Kompany uses man-marking at Bayern Munich, while Klopp plans with zonal marking for the Germany national team, as he did at his previous clubs. Using a magnetic tactics board, Kompany explained his system to Klopp and showed him that, in the flow of the game, there were not actually that many differences between the two approaches.
The pair also discussed individual players during the meeting. In Nathaniel Brown’s case, Klopp is said to have aimed a little dig at Kompany. "Now we’ve finally got a German left-back again - and then you play him as a number 10," the Germany coach is said to have joked, according to the report. Klopp had made a similar quip during Sat.1’s coverage of the Stuttgart game.
Nathaniel Brown recently played at left-back again for Bayern Munich
Brown impressed at left-back in his first appearances for the national team. Bayern Munich lacked attacking alternatives, however, so Kompany used the versatile 23-year-old new signing from Eintracht Frankfurt in attacking midfield at the start of the season. Kompany is said to have taken the dig in good humour and promised to use Brown again in future in his regular position at left-back.
That is exactly what happened in the matches that followed, though probably less because of Klopp’s demand and more because Bayern Munich’s other potential number 10s, Jamal Musiala and Ismael Saibari, were physically back on track. At left-back, Brown is competing with the rejuvenated Davies.
Klopp is also said to have held detailed talks in Munich not only with Kompany, but with Joshua Kimmich as well. During that conversation, the Germany coach is said to have assured the 31-year-old that he would remain captain for the time being and was planned for central midfield.