Nestory Irankunda is targeting his Bayern Munich debut this season as he continues to train with the senior team while gaining experience with the reserves. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich’s president, Uli Hoeness, has sharply criticized former manager Thomas Tuchel, calling his time at the club a “catastrophe.” As Bayern moves forward under Vincent Kompany’s leadership, Irankunda’s potential debut adds a new layer of excitement to the club’s future, while Tuchel’s appointment as England boss remains under scrutiny.
Rising Star Aims for Bayern Munich Debut This Season
Bayern Munich’s attacking players have been performing excellently this season. Vincent Kompany has been managing the forward line effectively, bringing out the best in many of his attackers. Nestory Irankunda is also eager to add to Die Roten’s offensive play later in the season.
The Australian winger joined Munich in the summer transfer window after catching attention with his standout performances for Adelaide United over the past two seasons. Bayern acted quickly last season to secure Irankunda’s signing before other European clubs entered the competition.
Since arriving in Bavaria during the summer transfer window, Irankunda has been training with the first team. However, the teenager has been getting playing time with the reserve team. Currently, the plan for Irankunda is to gain as much match experience as possible with the reserves while continuing his training with the first team.
Although he hasn’t featured for Bayern’s first team, Irankunda has been included in the Australian senior squad during recent international breaks. The teenager played for Australia in their match against China but did not make an appearance off the bench in the game against Japan this week. At just 18, he is gaining valuable international experience.
In an interview with AAP Sport during the international break, Irankunda discussed his goals for the season at Bayern.
“I’ll hopefully be on the bench at least – it’s gonna be a great achievement for me. I’m training with the first team every day, so I’m learning new things every day as well. So, hopefully, I get a chance soon. Just the same that I always do – go back, work hard, perform, try and get minutes.” said Nestory Irankunda.
Bayern’s Success with Young Players Boosts Irankunda
Bayern Munich boasts a strong attacking lineup, making it challenging for a young forward to secure playing time. However, the club’s recent success in integrating young players into the senior team offers hope for Irankunda. Over the past four seasons, Bayern has effectively brought Aleksandar Pavlović, Jamal Musiala, and Josip Stanišić into the first team.
Kompany is a bold coach who is committed to the style of football he aims to establish at Bayern. Throughout his short coaching career, the Belgian has shown strong support for young players. If Irankunda impresses Kompany in training, he can certainly rely on the coach to offer him valuable game time later in the season.
Additionally, the added fixtures from the Club World Cup and the revamped Champions League format provide Bayern with more chances to give young players opportunities on the biggest stage.
Irankunda will join the senior team for training on Friday as Bayern Munich gears up for their Bundesliga match against VfB Stuttgart on Saturday. While Bayern currently tops the Bundesliga table, they are on a three-game winless streak across all competitions. Kompany will be expecting a strong reaction from his team in front of a full Allianz Arena on Saturday.
Bayern Chief Criticizes’ Catastrophic’ Thomas Tuchel
Tuchel took charge of Bayern in March 2023, guiding them to the Bundesliga title that season. However, his second stint with the club was underwhelming, leading him to step down in the summer.
After being linked to several positions, including the Manchester United job, Tuchel is set to return to management in the New Year, agreeing to take charge of the Three Lions for a new era.
Tuchel will officially become England’s manager on January 1, 2025, but the appointment has already sparked debate within English football and beyond.
Bayern president Uli Hoeness has not hesitated to voice his opinion on the new England manager, describing Tuchel’s time in Germany as a “catastrophe” during a ‘Leadership Summit’ at the Allianz Arena (via the Mirror).
Hoeness also stated that the former Chelsea manager’s negative style of play diminished Bayern Munich’s “entertainment value” and that he failed to develop the club’s current players, opting instead to buy new ones.
Tuchel has been replaced by former Manchester City defender and Burnley manager, Vincent Kompany. It appears that Hoeness is quite pleased with his new coach as well.
Discussing Kompany’s impact, he said: “Vincent Kompany is – and that cannot be said for sure after a few weeks – a godsend for Bayern Munich.
“He’s someone who has played football at a high level himself. He also has a great character, in my opinion, and sees football as work. He wants to make the individual players better, and that’s what he’s working on.”
Hoeness isn’t the only one criticizing Tuchel; German media have recently labeled England as ‘desperate’ for hiring him. Only time will reveal if England made the right decision and whether Tuchel’s strong club record can translate to success at the international level.
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