Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany received his chance to comment on Edin Dzeko’s sensational return to the Germany at a Friday press conference. The scene was actually rather odd as a German reporter opted to read a quote to Kompany about his former Man City teammate.
Vincent Kompany listens to the soliloquy
“[Someone once said about you] ‘He was a magnificent captain’,” the reporter began. “‘He was the best captain we could have had at the time. He only thought about what was best for the team. Sometimes we referred to him as ‘the professor’ because he was always reading books whenever we were sitting in the bus on the way to away games.
Kompany began laughing out loud at this point.
“He always had two or three books with him,” the reporter went on. “He was a fabulous captain and one of the most influential figures at City in the last decade.’ Do you know who said that?“
A journalist in the back then whispered ‘Dzeko’, forcing the reporter to sardonically tell those in the back row to shut their mouths. The reporter reminded his colleagues that he opted to ask Kompany, and not them, the question.
Kompany responds
“Dzeko, really?” Kompany answered. “That’s crazy what you just did. Yeah, he was really important to us during that phase. He came from Wolfsburg after winning a Bundesliga title. He was a crucial and very important transfer. He was really important for our first title after scoring in that last game. I’m eternally grateful to him for this moment.
“The fact that he was able to continue to play at a top level for such a long time is a testament to his professionalism,” Kompany continued. “It’s similar to what Manuel Neuer does to keep fit and keep delivering at a top level. I always saw that in Edin Dzeko from a very young age onwards. He’s so tall and hasn’t forgotten how to score goals.
“In the environment of the 2. Bundesliga, where the level is a little lower than what he’s used to, it can be the case that he’s again a very important transfer for the last phase o the season,” Kompany concluded. “As he was very important to me in my career, I wish him all the best.“
