Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany knew it would surprise some folks when he deployed Alphonso Davies at left wing against Arsenal, but the decision came after close consultation with club higher-ups.
With Luis Díaz a major doubt, Michael Olise suspended, Joshua Kimmich mourning the passing of his father, and Jamal Musiala unavailable, FC Bayern had to get creative with its attacking options. Nathaniel Brown was also considered for the role, but Kompany and the club's leadership ultimately settled on Davies as an alternative.
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Kompany explained the thinking behind the decision.
"Lucho was a major doubt, Michael wasn't there. Jamal wasn't there. We considered using Nene Brown in attack. We knew we had Phonzy as an option in situations like today, we know he can help us in that position. We spoke about that in discussions with Max (Eberl) and Christoph (Freund). We have enough defenders at the moment. That's why we decided to use him there. We knew a moment like this would come at some point, and we used it."
The decision reflects the Bavarians' confidence in Davies' versatility and attacking qualities. With defensive options available, Kompany saw an opportunity to use the Canadian international further forward when FC Bayern needed solutions.
However, the lineup also created issues in certain positions that did not work out in the end (such as Josip Stanišić's disaster class at left-back). The starting XI will continue to be a hot debate among fans.
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