Jonathan Tah raves about Vincent Kompany. The Bayern defender explains why the coach has influenced him not only on the field but also on a personal level.

Jonathan Tah has long been more than just a center back at FC Bayern. The national team player is part of the core group of leaders and is expected to take on responsibility within the team. Tah credits his coach, Vincent Kompany, with playing a major role in this development.

In an interview with the British newspaper The Times, the 30-year-old explained that working with the Belgian has noticeably helped him grow.

“He’s helped me improve a lot. He’s someone who really sees the big picture. He looks beyond the game, beyond the field. He really focuses on developing a player’s character and wants me to become a leader, just as he was. He’s still so young—when you watch how he handles things as a coach, you sometimes get the feeling that he acts exactly as he would have as a player (..) We’re convinced that with this identity, if we put it into practice, we can win every game.”

Tah is thus highlighting, above all, an aspect that goes beyond tactical instructions or training content. From his perspective, Kompany focuses intensely on his players’ personalities and makes a concerted effort to develop their leadership qualities.

Kompany sees Tah as a leader

It became clear shortly after his transfer that Tah was expected to take on a special role at FC Bayern. The center back was included in the team council early on and, along with other experienced professionals, is part of the group of players who bear special responsibility within the locker room.

For Tah, this expectation is apparently closely linked to Kompany. The Bayern coach knows the role of defensive leader and captain very well from his own career. As a player, the former Manchester City pro was himself considered a leader—and it is precisely these qualities that he is now apparently trying to develop in Tah as well.

This isn’t just about communication on the field. Tah describes Kompany as a coach who challenges his players on a personal level as well and seeks to give them a clear understanding of the role they are expected to play within the team.

For Tah in particular, this approach fits well with his career path so far. Even during his time at Bayer Leverkusen and on the German national team, the defender repeatedly took on responsibility. At FC Bayern, he is now expected to further build on that status.

Tah’s reference to Kompany’s age is also noteworthy. Although the Belgian is only 40 years old himself, the defender apparently already sees a distinct style in the way Kompany interacts with the team. In doing so, Tah often still recognizes the former player Kompany—a professional who himself stood for dedication, presence, and leadership.

At the same time, these statements show just how much the team identifies with Kompany’s vision. Tah makes it clear that the Bayern players believe in their shared playing philosophy and are convinced they can succeed at the highest level with it.

For Kompany, Tah is clearly not just an important piece of the defensive puzzle. The coach also wants to turn the experienced national team player into an even stronger leader.

This article was translated into English by AI. You can read the original version here https://fcbinside.de/2026/10/20/er-hat-mich-sehr-verbessert-bayern-star-ist-kompany-dankbar/.