Which players will Kompany be without in Berlin?
Joshua Kimmich’s competitive drive has never been a secret, but the intensity of his reaction in Paris underlined just how fiercely he guards his place in Bayern Munich’s midfield.
After the exhausting 2–1 Champions League win over PSG, Kimmich was asked whether he would be disappointed not to start the next match away to Union Berlin. His answer came instantly, sharp and unequivocal: “Yes.” No smile, no attempt to soften the message. For Kimmich, playing is non-negotiable.
The reality, however, is more complicated. Vincent Kompany has already benched Kimmich twice this season. The decisions were carefully communicated, and Kimmich accepted them, but they were far from welcome. Bayern’s new coach has insisted on protecting players from overload, especially with the team’s demanding style of play and smaller squad size. The match in Paris was a vivid reminder of that strain. Several Bayern players signalled cramps in the final minutes, and the entire team looked drained at full-time. Managing such fatigue is now essential, even for someone as driven as Kimmich.
Kompany’s challenge heading into Berlin is once again finding the delicate balance between rotation and maintaining authority. He proved last weekend that he is not afraid to make bold calls. Against Bayer Leverkusen, he fielded what many described as a “B team,” yet Bayern delivered a controlled and disciplined performance that surprised even Leverkusen. It was a statement that his system, emphasis on collective movement, and structured pressing can be effective even without the star names. Still, for a physically demanding away fixture at Union Berlin’s Alte Försterei, reinforcements are expected.
Luis Díaz is the most obvious candidate to return. After his red card in Paris, the winger had his legs saved from a full 90-minute workload and should be fresh for Berlin. Serge Gnabry also left the field at halftime in Paris, but for tactical rather than physical reasons. Kompany is inclined to use Gnabry’s explosiveness from the start against Union, who typically defend deep and aggressively. The coach will also consider Lennart Karl as an alternative to Michael Olise on the flank, while Nicolas Jackson could rotate in for Harry Kane to offer pace in behind a compact Berlin defence.
The midfield remains the most sensitive area. Leon Goretzka is expected to return to the lineup, offering physicality and forward runs that may be crucial against Union’s rigid structure. The question is who makes way. Aleksandar Pavlovic appears more likely to step aside than Kimmich, although Kompany has shown that even the established players are not guaranteed an automatic starting spot. Yet the squad dynamics this season have shifted noticeably.
According to Kimmich, the smaller squad a weakness in past Bayern campaigns has become one of the team’s unexpected strengths. “I probably wouldn’t have said that before the season, but it helps us,” he admitted. “Everyone knows their role, everyone is very important. Coaches always say before the season: ‘Every player is important, everyone will get their moment.’ This season it’s actually true. Every player is important and every player has already started multiple times. That brings a group together.”
This sense of unity has been one of Kompany’s early achievements. Bayern’s squad is lean but fully synchronised, with players embracing tactical clarity and understanding that selection is influenced not only by status but by workload, opponent, and the need to maintain freshness. The internal competition has sharpened training sessions, and the reduced squad size has given fringe players consistent minutes, which helps maintain rhythm and morale.
Union Berlin, however, present a different type of challenge. Their home ground, the Alte Försterei, is notoriously intense, compact, and unforgiving. Bayern have struggled there in past seasons, especially in matches where physicality outweighs technical superiority. Kompany has been preparing his players all week to expect second-ball battles, set-piece duels, and long stretches of play where patience and defensive concentration will matter more than elegant combinations.
For Kimmich, these are the matches he lives for hard, emotional, defining. Whether he starts or not remains Kompany’s call, but his reaction in Paris made one thing clear: he intends to remain at the heart of Bayern’s project. Kompany, meanwhile, must decide whether to trust his vice-captain’s stamina or protect him from the kind of overuse that cost Bayern dearly in previous seasons.
As the trip to Berlin approaches, the tension between Kimmich’s ambition and Kompany’s rotation policy has become a reflection of Bayern’s broader transition. A team built on individual stars is learning to function as a collective, and a coach with a clear vision is willing to make unpopular decisions if they serve the long-term plan. The question on everyone’s mind is simple: who will Kompany trust to maintain Bayern’s momentum in Berlin.
