Bayern Munich need a breakout season from Kingsley Coman
Bayern Munich are in need of a serious spark to ignite their season, and young winger Kingsley Coman now has the perfect opportunity to be just that.
Things aren’t going so well for Bayern Munich. The club recently sacked Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti after he failed to provide favorable results. To make matters worse, veteran winger Franck Ribery is out for at least a few months after tearing a ligament in his knee.
Ribery’s injury is just another in a string of setbacks the club has experienced. World-class goalkeeper and Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer is out for the remainder of the calendar year. Young left-back Juan Bernat is sidelined indefinitely as well. Prior to his injury, the Spaniard was slowly proving himself to be the best left-back at the club.
While it may seem that everything that could is going bad for the club, that’s not entirely true. There have been a few signs of hope in an otherwise dreadful ’17-18 season. One of those is the form of young French winger Kingsley Coman. After spending most of last season on the sidelines, he’s finally been welcomed back on to the pitch and proven that’s where he belongs.
Coman has been great for Bayern Munich in each of his appearances this season. However, there is still room for improvement in his play.
Where he could improve
When it comes to beating a defender one-on-one the Frenchman is one of the best in the business. Coman’s blistering pace and tricky dribbling give him the advantage over nearly every defender he faces, and more than one unfortunate player has fallen victim to the clever winger.
Where he lacks, however, is in his decision making. Too often Coman blasts past his marker only to misplace a pass or fire an errant shot wide of the post. Even worse, he often shoots when he should pass and passes when he should shoot.
However, that’s to be expected from a player his age. It’s hard to remember given his trophy cabinet, but Coman is still only 21-years-old. He’ll figure it out soon, and when he does he will be a forced to be reckoned with. Take the way he created Robert Lewandowski’s opener earlier this season against Werder Bremen as an example of the spectacular talent Coman possesses.
The best fix for the one flaw in his play is simply experience. The more he plays, the better he will become at making those final decisions.
Here comes the playing time
Take away nothing from the tragedy of Franck Ribery’s serious injury. But if there’s any positive that can be drawn from the unfortunate event, it’s that Kingsley Coman will finally get plenty of playing time.
He was great under Pep Guardiola in the manager’s final season at the club, but much less effective last season under Carlo Ancelotti. Sure, he suffered an unfortunate injury that kept him sidelined for most of the season, but Ancelotti’s total lack of trust in the youngster did not do him any favors.
That’s changed slightly over the course of this season, but with Ancelotti gone and Ribery out injured, Coman is almost guaranteed to become a regular in the Bayern Munich starting XI. That’s why now is the perfect time for Kingsley Coman to step up and prove his worth in Munich.
A player for the future
Not only do Bayern need Coman to step up for this season, but also for the seasons to come. It is very likely we’ve seen the last of Franck Ribery. A serious injury this late in his career could very well prove to be terminal.
Arjen Robben, though healthy for now, is also declining. Both of the club’s marquee wingers are on their last legs, and it is time for the club to look to their replacements. That’s exactly what Kingsley Coman can be. Should he step up and have a breakout season, it would mark a “passing of the torch” in a way.
Kingsley Coman is in the perfect place to become the future of Bayern Munich. Along with fellow youngsters Joshua Kimmich, Niklas Sule and Corentin Tolisso, Kingsley Coman represents an exciting young roster that could prove to be the next golden generation of Bayern Munich superstars.
Coman’s time to shine
The Bavarians are in dire need of a kick-start when they return from international break. Coman’s youthful energy and insane talent make the perfect combination to do just that.
He’s been touted as one of Europe’s top young prospects for years, but now he can show he is much more than a mercurial talent. The Frenchman can become vital in turning his club’s season around, and I expect him to do just that.
Especially if the club opts to bring in a manager with a more hands-on approach. Recent rumors suggest that Thomas Tuchel is the man for the job. Regardless of how you feel about him as a person or a manager, there’s no denying that the German is tactically astute and excellent at developing young talent. His appointment at Bayern Munich would almost be a dream scenario for young Coman.
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Whoever becomes Bayern’s next manager, it’s hard to imagine he doesn’t make Coman an important piece in his starting XI. The France international has everything it takes to become one of the world’s best wingers. Don’t be surprised if he does just that before the ’17-18 season comes to a close.