Kompany hints Goretzka could continue to work as center back

Training camp for German giants FC Bayern München didn't officially break with last Friday night's victory over SSV Ulm 1846 in the opening round of the 2024/25 DFB Pokal. After their first trophy-less season in well over a decade, the FCB higher-ups scheduled an additional test fixture between the domestic cup opener and this Sunday's first league fixture against Wolfsburg. 

Head-coach Vincent Kompany turned to disaffected German midfielder Leon Goretzka to work alongside Eric Dier in central defense. The 29-year-old - as he once did previously under Thomas Tuchel in the Pokal last season - filled in reasonably well. The Bavarians defeated Grasshoppers Zürich 4-0 at the Allianz. Kompany suggested Goretzka could fill in again while speaking at a Saturday presser. 

"Leon did a great job," Kompany said, "He can slip into that role well." 

FCB front office bigwigs Max Eberl and Jan-Christian Dressen were also at the presser. At several times over the past week, both executives were asked to comment on Bayern's plans in the final week of the current transfer window. The double-sale of Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt left the defensive corps somewhat understaffed. Injuries to Josip Stanisic and Hiroki Ito further thin the herd. 

"At the moment, it doesn't feel as if we need to react," Eberl emphasized yet again, "[the injuries to Stanisic and Ito] are not nice and make you cringe, but we have the comfortable situation with Vini [Kompany] that he works well with the younger boys."

"The transfer window is not over," Dreesen nevertheless added, "We remain financially strong enough to buy now and sell later. This foundation has been built upon prudent management over the last 25 years."