A three-sided defense against Standard? Kompany will still have to experiment – All football

Vincent Kompany has experienced at many positions since the beginning of the championship: backs, midfielder, wings, tip. But if a sector seemed to be no longer subject to debate, it is central defense, where the player-manager and Philippe Sandler form one of the strongest pairs of Jupiler Pro League. Since the second match in Mouscron, the two men do not leave the eleven and the quack against Kortrijk, everything was going at best.

Patatras: Last Friday, against Genk, Vincent Kompany was injured and his sidekick was cramped. The result: a Cobbaut-Kana defense, rather experimental, well back in the game but that looked like a do-it-yourself game, while Anderlecht put the rest of his centrals away from kernel A (Bornauw, Lawrence and Sa parties, Milic en outgoing).

Good news: Sandler is already back and should be able to hold his position. The Dutchman was very present in the training and did not spare himself especially, although he also had a personal session, not necessarily less intense than the others but more adapted.

Kana, Kompany's protégé

Marco Kana, 17, impresses. Formed defensive midfielder, he convinced Vincent Kompany to give him a chance, to get him into the game at Genk under enormous pressure – and now convinced observers. Now fully integrated into Kernel A, he was taken under his wing by Kompany, who had a long discussion with him during the open training session, correcting his technique – already impressive – transversal.

But is not it a little too early to imagine a central defense Sandler – Kana? The player on loan from Manchester City is only 22 and still has to progress to become a leader capable of leading the young Kana. However promising he may be, he may not have the shoulders to be the only boss of a defense.

The solution: three behind?

During this Wednesday's open training, Vincent Kompany appeared to be working with his three "central defenders" (including only two training), Sandler, Cobbaut and Kana, together. In the center circle, all three combined, before combining with Peter Zulj in front of them and to practice the distribution of the game via transversals towards the flanks.

Of course, Elias Cobbaut only … 21 years old. He is therefore still younger than Philippe Sandler. But his style, much more physical, could allow more margin of error to Kana: Cobbaut will never hesitate to clear a ball in the parking lot Lotto Park in case of danger. That's one of the reasons why Kompany had removed it from the eleven, but maybe it's time to put some water in his wine.

Align the three men in concert is a possibility, which would stick well enough to a player like Nacer Chadli who likes to walk all its flank in this type of training. Case to follow …