Bayern Munich’s Kingsley Coman doesn’t want to be “new Ribery”
In an interview with Kicker, Kingsley Coman asserted that he wants to be his own player at Bayern Munich rather than simply the “new Ribery.”
Kingsley Coman is one of the hottest talents at Bayern Munich. The 22-year-old is nearing the end of his fourth season at the club, having spent two years in Bavaria on loan before making his move permanent in the summer of 2017.
The Frenchman has been considered an exceptional talent since first joining the club in 2015. However, he has struggled to permanently nail down a spot in the starting lineup until recently, for various reasons. This has mostly been down to his terrible injury record, though his form has been inconsistent at times as well.
Coman has been sensational in recent weeks, though, fully demonstrating exactly what he is capable of going forward. The doubts as to whether or not he has what it takes to be a permanent successor to Franck Ribery on the left flank are slowly being put to rest.
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Though Coman and Ribery’s playing styles are not identical, their nationalities and club make it far too easy to directly compare the two. Speaking in an interview with Kicker, Coman asserted that he has no interest in simply being the “new Ribery.”
"“Franck has his career, I have mine — completely independent of his person. I’m not the new Ribery, I’m me.“I have enough qualities to deliver a very good performance at Bayern.”"
In the brief portion of the interview that Kicker have already made available, Coman acknowledged the weaker areas of his play. He recognized that he still needs to score more goals to be totally successful as a winger and humbly claimed that he is still a way off from being considered “world class.”
Coman is certainly on his way, however, to reaching that title. Given how long he has been playing successfully at the highest level, it’s easy to forget that Coman is still just 22 and has all his best years ahead of him. With proper development he can reach the level of his predecessor on Bayern’s left flank.
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Although Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben are leaving at the end of the campaign, Coman could actually have more competition for his starting spot next season. Bayern have been linked with several wingers — such as Lille’s Nicolas Pepe — in recent months and have even confirmed themselves that they are hoping to bolster the wide areas of their attack this summer. Serious competition for his place in the starting lineup will only do Coman good, however.