Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany understands why some folks have not viewed his squad’s Champions League performances this season as anything to write home about.
Still, the manager is aiming to change that perception — but knows it will not be easy.
“We have to focus on our best performance. It’s a Champions League game against an opponent with a lot of tradition. What we’ve done so far has led to us scoring 50 goals and winning often. We have a lot of confidence in our game. We will always adapt a little bit tactically — sometimes quite pragmatically. We just want to win at home tomorrow,” said Kompany (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). “The most important thing is the mindset that we communicate to the players — we want to approach every game like a final, so that when we get to the finals, we see them as normal games.
“The situation is clear, you probably have to win six games to get into the top eight, three games are probably enough for the play-offs. Of course my goal is to get into the top eight. We’ve won one game now, so it’s clear what we need in the remaining games. We’ve played away twice. It’s different for every club, so it’s difficult to look at the table right now.”
Kompany is happy to be playing this match at the Allianz Arena again after being away for a decent stretch in recent weeks.
“At some point you realize that you don’t sleep in your bed very often when you play away a lot [laughs]. The difference wasn’t that big, we won a lot away from home too. Everyone knows how special the Allianz Arena is, how often Bayern wins here. We play in front of our fans, that’s always special,” Kompany noted.
Table aside, Kompany also gave a brief update on the status of some of his injured players heading into the match. In addition, the coach also addressed how he will manage rotating his wingers, while not revealing which players will get the starting nod.
“Sacha is doing quite well. We didn’t expect him to be able to join in this session. Maybe we’ll get an extra player in him after the international break. With Hiroki it’s the opposite. He has to take another break now. It’s bitter for him and for us. Everyone else is doing well,” said Kompany. “It’s simple. We have a lot of games. This position in particular needs this number of players. They all do a lot and support each other. The boys know that we need everyone.”
One player who Kompany knows will be ready is Portuguese midfielder João Palhinha.
“Of course he has a role in our game and it’s about fulfilling that role. Emotions are part of football. He’s not a 19-year-old player, but an experienced player who has experienced a lot. When the game starts, it’s all about Bayern Munich winning. Ultimately, hopefully it’s a nice story for him tomorrow,” said Kompany.
Finally, Kompany was asked about facing his former Manchester City teammate Nicolas Otamendi.
“We were both very aggressive defenders and part of a very successful team. He’s still playing at the same level, which means he did things right. I’m looking forward to seeing him. There’s also Zeki Amdouni, with whom I worked at Burnley. I’m always happy to see them,” Kompany stated.
Looking for more thoughts and analysis on Bayern Munich’s upcoming Champions League match with Benfica, along with a reaction to Bayern Munich drawing Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB-Pokal? What about our takes on the latest news regarding Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sané, and Alphonso Davies — and what might happen if Bayern actually finds a way to ink them all? Great, then check out our Bavarian Podcast Works — Flagship Show on Patreon, Spotify, or below:
