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Jurgen Klopp pulled no punches as he assessed Bayern Munich's performance against Arsenal(Image: Getty Images)
Jurgen Klopp questioned Vincent Kompany's use of Harry Kane as he reopened his feud with the Bayern Munich boss. As Germany head coach, Klopp may be expected to play it safe when asked to comment on players and managers.
But the former Liverpool boss produced some eye-opening soundbites when interviewed at half-time of Bayern's 2-2 draw with Arsenal. He admitted to being confused by Bayern's approach without the ball, telling DAZN: "To this day, I haven't fully understood what Bayern does against the ball."
On Bayern's defending for Arsenal's first goal, scored by Eberechi Eze, Klopp said: "Someone plays him onside, but there's no pressure on the ball beforehand. And that's what I'm missing."
Then, when it was put to him that Harry Kane was "everywhere" during the game, Klopp wasn't convinced, saying: "I think that's absolutely fine with the ball. But without the ball? When I see Harry Kane standing in the last line, not in the deep block, but in the midfield press…
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"And again, I'm no football guru. Everyone is free to do what they want. But I haven't quite figured it all out yet either."
When Klopp's comments were put to Kompany after the game, the former Burnley boss replied tersely: "I'm not answering that. Next question."
It wasn't the first time a Kompany decision had been questioned by Klopp. Before the start of the season, Klopp admitted he wasn't happy at seeing Bayern's Nathaniel Brown not playing at left-back. He said: "For once I have a good left-back, and now Kompany goes and plays him as a number 10!"
Vincent Kompany refused to respond to Klopp's comments(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)
Going back further, Klopp once said Kompany should have been sent off for a challenge on Mohamed Salah during a match between Liverpool and Manchester City in 2019. He said: "I really like Vincent Kompany but how on Earth is that not a red card? He is last man and he goes in. If he hits Mo more, he is out for the season."
Klopp's latest comments about Kompany may sour an important relationship, given how many Bayern players traditionally feature in Germany squads. Klopp named an expanded 44-man group for the first round of Nations League matches, which included nine players from the country's biggest club.
Klopp didn't agree with how Harry Kane was used against Arsenal(Image: Getty Images)
Despite Klopp's comments, Kane, who scored Bayern's second goal from the penalty spot, was happy with the performance. He said: "I thought we had a good performance. Especially at the start of the second half, we got the goal and had the chance to kill the game off with another goal.
"Towards the end of the game, we found ourselves in a low block and struggled to get the ball out. Overall, we could've been more efficient, but I thought the draw was a fair result. We take the point and move on."