Kompany: Kane and Olise Starting on the Bench Was Entirely a Rational Decision; We Did Not Play Badly

In the second round of the Bundesliga on September 6, 2026, defending champions Bayern Munich were held to a 0-0 away draw by Schalke 04. After the match, Bayern coach Vincent Kompany gave an in-depth analysis of the game, with particular attention drawn to the decision to have players Harry Kane and Michael Olise start as substitutes.

Kompany made it clear that the decisions to place Kane and Olise on the bench were entirely based on rational considerations. He pointed out that the two players returned from holiday later than others, and the team could not simply expect them to play at full intensity. Especially after the previous German Cup match against Osnabrück, where they had already used significant energy, Kompany believed maintaining their fitness was crucial for the upcoming high-intensity fixtures.

"We must ensure that they can play in the upcoming German Cup knockout match," Kompany said. "Therefore, we cannot put too much match load on players who have just returned. This was a very rational decision." When the match reached the 45th minute, Kompany finally decided to send Kane on as a substitute, and Olise also appeared later in the game.

Regarding the draw, Kompany said: "I think this was an excellent and passionate match. Both sides made extremely important defensive actions to keep the scoreline level. Although we created some shooting opportunities, the opponent's interference was very timely." He expressed respect for Schalke's performance and acknowledged that their fighting spirit on the pitch was very clear.

From a tactical perspective, Kompany highlighted the importance of high pressing and counter-pressing. He believed Bayern performed relatively well in this area but still had room for improvement. He said: "We defended very well away from home and gave the opponent very few chances, but against a well-organized team with strong running ability, we need to maintain a high tempo throughout the match and keep applying pressure."

Kompany's analysis also mentioned issues with the team's match rhythm. He said: "Sometimes we slowed the pace of the game and missed a few minutes of continuous pressure, which should not happen." He pointed out that the team needs to maintain a high level of concentration and tempo until spaces are created, ensuring they can take advantage of every attacking opportunity.

Looking ahead to the upcoming Champions League matches, Kompany hopes to make tactical adjustments to adapt to the characteristics of different opponents. He said: "Our way of playing cannot rely only on forward lofted passes; we must remain objective."

Overall, although the team did not win the match, Kompany praised the players' performance and believed their effort was not bad. He emphasized the unpredictability of football and noted that in high-level competitions, the result does not always reflect the true performance of a team.

For fans, Bayern's performances remain worth looking forward to. The team's star players, such as Kane and Olise, will continue to deliver exciting performances in the upcoming matches.