Kompany highlights Barcelona’s strength and ignores Bayern’s favoritism

Vincent Kompany chose not to get carried away by Bayern Munich’s favorable record and showed great respect for Barcelona ahead of Wednesday’s match, valid for the third round of the UEFA Champions League. Even with the Germans coming off a streak of six consecutive victories against the Spanish team, including a historic 8-2 thrashing, the Bavarian coach avoided focusing on the past and made sure to praise the opponent.

“Tomorrow, we will face a very complicated rival. One of the strongest teams in Europe,” Kompany said at a press conference in Spain, which was interrupted by a power outage. “I hope that doesn’t happen again,” joked the coach, before adding that he doesn’t see this duel as different, despite the rivalry between the clubs.

Treating all matches the same

Kompany, known for his focused and pragmatic style, stressed that, for him, all matches are equally important. “Personally, because of who I am, I don’t distinguish between this game and the others. I live each match intensely, and the next game is always the most important,” said the coach, highlighting that Barcelona is one of Europe’s top powers, making this a thrilling match.

The duel will be Bayern’s first encounter with Barcelona under Hansi Flick, the coach who made history at the German club and is now leading the Spanish side. Kompany acknowledged Flick’s impact on Bayern and believes this background could be an advantage for the Spaniards. “Hansi was very successful at Bayern, and people still talk about him in Munich. He means a lot to the club, and his ideas are very clear. I hope ours are as well. Tomorrow, we will see who comes out on top,” said the Bayern coach.

Caution with Barcelona’s young prospect Lamine Yamal

Kompany also showed respect for the young talent Lamine Yamal, only 16 years old, who has been standing out at Barcelona. For the Bayern coach, Yamal’s emergence is a great asset for the Catalans, especially after Messi’s departure. “For Barcelona, it’s extraordinary that, after the departure of such a key figure as Messi, they already have another player capable of taking his place. He’s an impressive player, and I have great respect for La Masia, their youth academy,” Kompany praised.

Despite the importance of the young player for the Spanish team, Kompany avoided focusing too much on Yamal individually, preferring to emphasize that Bayern needs to be prepared to face Barcelona as a whole, which is always dangerous, no matter who is on the field.

The 8-2 record won’t influence the match

When asked about Bayern’s 8-2 win over Barcelona in the 2020 Champions League quarterfinals, Kompany deflected, preferring to focus on the present. “At that time, I was home in Brussels, it was during the pandemic. I understand that it’s part of the drama surrounding this game, but I’m only interested in tomorrow’s match. There will be a new story, and that’s the only one that matters now,” the coach emphasized.

Kompany, who took over Bayern after years of success as both a player and manager at other clubs, showed his usual emotional control when handling sensitive topics like this. For him, what’s in the past is in the past, and the focus should be on what happens on the pitch on match day.

Expectations for the duel at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys

The clash between Bayern and Barcelona will take place at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona’s temporary home while Camp Nou is undergoing renovations. Although it’s not the usual stage for Barcelona’s matches, the venue brings a unique atmosphere that could influence the course of the game.

Kompany knows that in addition to facing a top-tier team, Bayern will also have to deal with the home field factor. The coach expressed confidence in his team’s preparation but emphasized that Bayern needs to pay attention to all details to achieve a good result. “The stadium is different, but the essence of Barcelona remains the same. They are dangerous anywhere, and we need to be ready for that,” he stated.

The responsibility of maintaining Bayern’s performance

Despite Bayern’s recent favorable record, Kompany is not complacent. He knows that each Champions League match brings its own challenges and that Barcelona, especially at home, is an unpredictable opponent. The Bavarian coach stressed that the team needs to stay focused from the first minute, without giving the Spanish side any openings.

Kompany, who has faced great challenges throughout his career, both as a player and manager, is aware that Bayern carries the expectation of continuing its victorious path in the competition. However, he remains grounded, knowing that he can’t rely solely on past success.

“We’re competing against one of Europe’s biggest teams. And that alone forces us to be at our best. We can’t rest on what we’ve already done, we need to prove our worth in every game,” the coach concluded.

Key points

• Kompany ignores Bayern’s streak of six consecutive wins over Barcelona.
• The Bayern coach highlights respect for the opponent and Barcelona’s European strength.
• Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s 16-year-old prospect, received praise from Kompany.
• The coach downplayed the significance of the 8-2 win in 2020, stating that the focus is on the next match.
• High expectations for the clash at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.