For the first time since 2021, both FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund have appointed new managers this summer. Following disappointing, trophyless seasons, fans and pundits alike called for change at Germany’s two most prestigious clubs. Borussia Dortmund turned to Nuri Şahin, a former academy player and assistant manager, to lead the team, while Bayern, after an extensive search, made the bold choice to hire the relatively untested Vincent Kompany. Both appointments are daring and carry significant risk, making it one of the season’s most intriguing storylines to watch how these coaching decisions play out.

To offer insight into the appointment, transfer window, and early start to the season, I have invited esteemed Borussia Dortmund analyst Andre, and FC Bayern tactician Sultan onto the newsletter to discuss their club’s early fortunes and prognosis for the campaign ahead. 

First and foremost, thank you for joining me on The German Football Weekly! Before we get into the in-depth discussion, let’s start from the top. What was your initial reaction to your club's managerial appointment?

Andre

To be honest, it wasn’t much of a surprise. The writing had been on the wall since Şahin’s appointment as assistant coach in January 2024, which came in response to a disastrous first half of the season under Edin Terzić. While there wasn’t much improvement in the team's performances during the second half of the season, reaching the Champions League Final against all odds did offer a fresh argument for keeping Terzić in charge. 

However, both the management and Terzić ultimately agreed to part ways, likely recognizing that, despite nearly achieving a historic title, his continued tenure in Dortmund would have been a ticking time-bomb waiting to explode. Once that decision was made, it seemed obvious who would take his place. Dortmund isn’t known for being particularly creative in managerial appointments, and with Şahin already groomed for the role over the previous six months, his promotion felt inevitable.

Sultan

My initial reaction was a mix of surprise, optimism, and disappointment—definitely a whirlwind of emotions. The appointment came out of nowhere, and like many Bayern fans, I initially favored a few other candidates whose names had been circulating in the media all summer. After a string of highly-public rejections, it felt like the club had taken the path of least resistance. It didn’t help that Vincent Kompany’s stock wasn’t exactly high after a lackluster Premier League campaign with Burnley. It seemed like there weren’t many top European clubs lining up for his services.

Nuri Şahin made his debut for Borussia Dortmund’s first team at just 16 years and 10 months old, and went on to amass over 250 appearances for the club across two different spells in black & yellow. Vincent Kompany, meanwhile, is best known for his 11-year spell at Manchester City, where he captained the team to 4 Premier League titles and 4 FA Cups. How significant do you think their playing careers will be in shaping their success as managers this season?

Andre

I don't place much importance on a successful playing career translating into managerial success. In my opinion, playing careers are often over-valued when it comes to coaching. What matters far more is a manager’s approach to the game, their tactical knowledge, and their ability to inspire and lead players and staff. While being a good player might expose you to top-tier coaches and open doors, it doesn’t necessarily reflect your abilities as a coach. That said, I do think Şahin will excel in connecting with players, but that’s more a reflection of his personality than his playing career.

Sultan

To some extent, a playing career can be an asset. It's crucial for a coach to understand what players are experiencing in certain situations and to grasp their personalities. A former playing career can provide valuable insight, allowing a player-turned-coach to find the right words or emotions at critical moments

.In Kompany’s case, his background as a successful defender and captain, especially during his time under Pep Guardiola, will be key to his coaching success. As a leader in England, Kompany excelled in building strong relationships with teammates through communication and conviction. Known for being vocal and demanding in team talks, his presence and intelligence can help unite the Bayern locker room and play a vital role in the team’s success this season.

Before the season's meaningful football began, both Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern faced crucial transfer windows. After disappointing domestic campaigns, it was evident that both squads required significant revamping and refreshing during the off-season. How well do you think each club’s transfer activity aligns with the coaches' vision?

Andre

Şahin’s possession-oriented vision is clearly reflected in this summer’s transfer activity. Pascal Groß, as a tempo-setting playmaker, and Yan Couto, an attack-minded wingback who provides width to complement an inverting winger, are both ideal fits for Şahin’s style of play.

Waldemar Anton is another strong match for Şahin’s tactical approach. His ability in build-up play, combined with his speed and defensive skills, supports Dortmund's strategy of playing with a high defensive line and pressing opponents. Serhou Guirassy, Anton’s former teammate in Stuttgart, also brings more technical ability than what Dortmund previously had at center-forward with Niclas Füllkrug. Guirassy’s involvement in possession and his well-rounded profile offer a valuable contrast to Füllkrug’s penalty-box prowess. Additionally, Maxi Beier’s intelligent attacking movements and tendency to drift into half-spaces will complement Guirassy well, echoing the successful partnership Guirassy had with Denis Undav last season.

In theory, all the new signings align well with Şahin’s possession-based 3-2-2-3 formation. However, while these additions are promising, there are still significant gaps in the squad that weren’t addressed during the summer and could pose major challenges this season.

Sultan

There’s a reason FC Bayern earns the nickname "FC Hollywood"—their transfer windows are always filled with enough drama to warrant a blockbuster film, and this summer was no exception. Major signings like Hiroki Itō, João Palhinha, and Michael Olise have certainly addressed the club’s needs and the coach’s desires. Palhinha is the long-awaited ball-winner in midfield, Itō brings balance as a left-footed CB/LB hybrid, and Olise offers the tactical and technical skills required for Bayern’s fluid attacking play.

While these signings reflect well-planned strategies and decisive action, the latter part of the transfer window was less impressive. Bidding over €50 million for Xavi Simons or Désiré Doué, despite having an elite prospect like Paul Wanner coming through the ranks, was puzzling and not in line with the club's otherwise authoritative approach.

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At the time of writing we’ve just come off the season’s first international break. Both FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund cruised through their DFB Pokal first-round matches and remain unbeaten across their opening two league games. Bayern have a perfect 6 points, while Dortmund sit on 4. Based on this early sample, what do you think has been working well for both coaches so far?

Andre

Neither of Dortmund's league matches have been particularly thrilling to watch, but one thing worth noting is Şahin’s emphasis on controlling possession and building through the center. This approach hasn’t been fully effective yet, but it’s encouraging to see Şahin attempting to reintroduce a proactive style of play.

Additionally, Şahin’s use of a 3-2 buildup shape, leaving five players to guard against counterattacks, is a clever response to a long-standing weakness in Dortmund’s game. It shows he’s addressing one of the club’s historical vulnerabilities with a smart tactical adjustment.

Sultan

Starting with two wins out of two is exactly the way to kick off a managerial career at a club like FC Bayern. It’s particularly impressive to see how Kompany has addressed shortcomings and evolved the team from game to game. In the first match against Wolfsburg, we saw numerous risky turnovers and loose balls, but by the second match against Freiburg, Bayern displayed much greater maturity and control.

It’s also exciting to witness Kompany’s tactical vision taking shape. The team is implementing intricate patterns of play and positional rotations that are proving effective. We’re seeing dynamic triangles forming to advance play, and complex midfield movements that keep us unpredictable and able to break through opposition pressure. Players like Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlović, Michael Olise, and Jamal Musiala are clearly developing a strong understanding of each other's games and adapting well to Kompany’s demands in possession.

Both clubs still have significant areas to improve if they aim to challenge for titles this season. What have been some of the early challenges for Nuri Şahin and Vincent Kompany?

Andre

The matches against Eintracht Frankfurt and Werder Bremen highlighted several key areas needing improvement. A major issue is that not all players on the squad are suited to a possession-based style of play and may struggle with the principles Şahin is implementing. Some issues, such as integrating a fully fit Yan Couto in place of Julian Ryerson, can be addressed this season. However, other challenges, like the on-ball limitations of Emre Can, may persist due to a lack of suitable alternatives.

Additionally, the squad has struggled to effectively play through pressure and trigger an opponent's press. This should improve with more practice, but it will take time, especially after two years under Edin Terzić, where these concepts were resisted rather than embraced.

Lastly, there’s a clear need for more creativity in the final third. Dortmund has had difficulty creating chances in their opening two Bundesliga fixtures. I have high hopes for Serhou Guirassy’s return, as his ability to hold up play, draw defenders, and make selfless runs will be crucial in helping players like Maximilian Beier and Julian Brandt find more opportunities for impact.

Sultan 

Despite securing two victories, Vincent Kompany and FC Bayern still have significant improvements to make. Although we had substantial control In the match against Freiburg we failed to capitalize on it effectively to create chances. Our switches of play were often too slow, and we couldn’t move the ball quickly enough to set up favorable 1v1 situations for Michael Olise and Serge Gnabry. The first match against Wolfsburg also exposed ongoing issues with our defensive solidity and decision-making in build-up play. There were too many individual errors and technical lapses that could be costly at the highest level if we don’t become more efficient.

Additionally, maintaining fitness and intensity throughout the full 90 minutes remains a concern. This issue was apparent during pre-season and continues to be a challenge as the season progresses.

Andre, you have brought a bit more time with you today for a few additional questions concerning Borussia Dortmund’s side of things! One of the significant talking points from last season was the unbalanced midfield structure. Can you elaborate on how Şahin is working to address this critical issue?

Last season, Dortmund frequently used a midfield trio consisting of Emre Can, Julian Brandt, and Marcel Sabitzer. In the first half of the season, Sabitzer was positioned deeper alongside Can to aid in build-up play, compensating for Can’s technical weaknesses. However, this arrangement didn’t suit Sabitzer, who excels more as a dynamic box-to-box or roaming playmaker, or Dortmund, who struggled to play through pressure.

In the second half of the season, Dortmund experimented with a 3-2 build-up structure, with January loanee Ian Maatsen dynamically moving into midfield to support Emre Can. Şahin has maintained the 3-2 structure from the second half of last season, but importantly, he has added Pascal Groß, a truly dominant deep-lying playmaker who can handle build-up duties effectively.

With Julian Brandt and Marcel Sabitzer positioned in the third line of Şahin’s 3-2-2-3 formation, Dortmund now effectively deploy four central midfielders, which helps to overwhelm opponents and control crucial areas of the pitch. While it hasn’t fully clicked yet, there’s a clear plan and potential for this setup to work well.

Another key topic of discussion is the defense. Borussia Dortmund have parted ways with Mats Hummels, brought in Waldemar Anton, and shifted to a back three. What do you think motivated Şahin to move away from the traditional back four in favor of this new defensive setup?

This has certainly been the most talked-about aspect since Şahin’s appointment. The 36-year-old coach has deployed three center-backs in all three of our competitive fixtures this season. However, it's important to note that this setup is not a traditional back three or back five. Instead, Nico Schlotterbeck often functions as an auxiliary left-back when Dortmund advance play or transition to a defensive phase. Schlotterbeck’s experience in this position at Freiburg, and his natural speed and dynamism, make him well-suited for this role.

The additional center-back is also crucial in shielding against counterattacks when Dortmund build up in the aforementioned 3-2 structure. If we lose possession during build-up, having an extra body in the center helps us win back the ball or at least slow down the opponent's attack to get bodies behind play.

I should also briefly touch on the decision to replace Mats Hummels with Waldemar Anton. The transfer was not just influenced by footballing factors but also by Hummels' off-field tensions with Edin Terzić and the board. From a football perspective, however, Anton offers a clear athletic advantage. His presence allows Şahin to confidently play a high defensive line, whereas a 35-year-old Hummels might have struggled in this system. It is a similar rationale for why Julian Nagelsmann decided to leave the Ballon d’Or nominated defender out of his EURO 2024 squad.

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Let's take a broader look at the squad. Which player or players do you think will benefit the most from Nuri Şahin's arrival?

One player who immediately comes to mind is Julian Brandt. His exceptional ability to interpret space and create opportunities for teammates makes him a perfect fit for Şahin's possession-based style of football. Brandt is likely to thrive under this system, which will better utilize his strengths.

Another, perhaps unexpected, beneficiary is Gregor Kobel. While Kobel was already one of the best shot-stoppers in the world, his limitations with the ball at his feet have been a drawback since his arrival at Dortmund. Under Şahin, Kobel will be integrated more often into passing and possession drills, something that was not emphasized under Terzić. Although we shouldn’t expect him to become a ball-playing goalkeeper like Manuel Neuer, any improvement in this area will significantly enhance his game and contribute to Borussia Dortmund’s overall success.

As we wrap up, let’s look ahead. Where do you think this journey will take Borussia Dortmund, and how long do you anticipate it will last?

There have already been noticeable improvements, but it's unrealistic to expect the team to fully transform overnight. Currently, Bayer Leverkusen and FC Bayern remain out of reach for Dortmund, and even RB Leipzig appears further along in their development and is likely to secure third place.

It's essential that we at least qualify for the Champions League. If Şahin meets this goal while implementing a style of football that shows progress, then I am confident that the board won’t impose unrealistic expectations too soon. Ideally, Şahin should have time to build a team that fully aligns with his vision, rather than just making the most out of a squad that is still unbalanced in key areas at the moment.

I'm optimistic that as the team becomes more accustomed to Şahin’s approach, the quality of football will improve, and the results will follow. Let’s stay positive and hope for a few successful years under Şahin in black and yellow.