Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany’s Belgian roots have made him a little excited to face Club Brugge in the Champions League.
Kompany, who inked a contract extension earlier today, thinks that Club Brugge will not be a pushover.
“Club Brugge is a hard-working team, which is very Belgian. They’ve consistently achieved good results in Europe. They’re not an easy opponent; they’re very dangerous. That’s why good preparation is so important. I’ve known the rivalry with Club Brugge since I was 6 years
old. And I know a lot of people there within the club structure; I’ve played with them for a long time. I respect them a lot, too. That’s the Belgian side. But in the end, Bayern Munich is the deciding factor for me – and that’s less special for the players than for me,” said Kompany (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). “We’re playing against a Belgian team, but I played for Anderlecht throughout my youth. So, on the one hand, it remains a big rivalry, but on the other hand, I know players from the national team and from England. Coach Nicky Hayen, too; that’s a very special story. I feel a sense of rivalry.
“You should never underestimate your opponent. You always have to have quality in your team to pull off a run like that. A win is a kind of prize you win. And when we remember the few times we’ve lost and how strong the feeling was for the opponent then, we don’t want to give that feeling of victory away to them. It can happen that we lose, but we should never give anything away.”
In his press conference, Kompany also noted that Serge Gnabry and Josip Stanišić are not healthy enough to play, but also touted the emergence of Sacha Boey.
“Serge Gnabry and Josip Stanišić are unavailable for tomorrow,” said Kompany. “This remains an important story: Things weren’t easy for Serge Gnabry either, and for Leon Goretzka as well. What’s important is that the players with us at FC Bayern never lack talent. We can all have different opinions about whether one player should play today or another. But we always feel that the players we have in our squad can be trusted 100% in every situation.
“So, with Sacha Boey, it’s no surprise – anyone who saw him at Galatasaray saw him as a great talent there. Sometimes it’s not easy to find your way into Bayern Munich. But if the players maintain their confidence, they can also show their quality. I’m happy for him now that he can do that – but the good story always remains the same, no matter who it is: whether it’s Eric Dier, Goretzka, Gnabry – and now Boey.”
Bayern Munich looked pretty tired by the end of its 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund and now must quickly rebound for a Champions League showdown with Belgian power Club Brugge. Let’s dig into all of the details on the this edition of the Bavarian Podcast Works — Preview Show:
