Vincent Kompany to rely on ‘individual quality’, ‘collective intensity’ to power Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid

MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 14: Vincent Kompany, head coach of FC Bayern Muenchen, during a press conference prior their UEFA Champions League 2025/26 quarter-final second leg match at Football Arena Munich on April 14, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by F. Noever/FC Bayern via Getty Images) | FC Bayern via Getty Images

Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany think the winner of the Champions League showdown between his team and Real Madrid will come down to who can overcome adversity the best.

“It’ll come down to lots of things. It starts with individual quality. There’s collective intensity and willingness to go through the pain barrier. Sometimes the referee can also decide the game. I hope not,” Kompany said with a laugh (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). “But I mean that every little detail counts. We’re mentally and physically well prepared. And we’re excited about this game. You need those positive emotions.

“The end of the (first) game wasn’t that one-sided. We could’ve scored more goals as well. But Real will obviously have gained confidence from that spell. But it’s a mix. I felt after the game that we could’ve stepped things up another notch. That’s good, when you win 2-1 at the Bernabéu and still feel that. We now need to show that. When you’re not clean in your play, they’re capable of getting at your goal incredibly quickly with their talent. But the important thing for me is how much do we need to solve? I always think before going to bed that the opposition coach has a lot to solve. That gives me a good feeling.

“I think (leg one) was a good result. That’s all. Maybe we could’ve scored one more goal, but we also could’ve conceded more. We’ve got a slight advantage, nothing more. It was a top game, a tough game and it’s not over yet. I was really pleased with the result. And everything we can improve we’ll try to improve.”

Kompany also indicated that he is not worried about his team’s ability to bounce back after last week’s win over Real Madrid and the weekend victory over St. Pauli.

“We’ve done that well. We also did it against St. Pauli. Obviously it’s tough to compare, but we managed to switch things. Things are very calm here, at least at Säbener Straße. We’ve got our procedures. We’re excited for the game. We want to win and show what we can do, which the fans expect from us every home game, although we’ve also got respect for the opponent. The team can have the goal of having the confidence to win the game,” said Kompany.

When asked about the status of Gnabry, Kompany simply stated: “He’s fit. Yes, he can play 90 if he has to. He can play 120 if he has to. He’s physically ready.”

As far as Jamal Musiala goes, Kompany had much more to say.

“Things are all going very positively. It’s sometimes tough to explain the details. What we sense and talk about every day, comparing where he was three months ago – even though he was playing – and where he is now, it’s all going in one direction. I can’t say anything about tomorrow, but our feeling is that it’s going in one direction and we’ll one day have the Jamal we all want to see again. We need to stay calm, but it’s all a lot better than it was two months ago. But still, he’s scoring goals and providing assists. That shows he’s mentally grown in his play. He feels better and better and can still perform,” Kompany said.

Kompany was also queried on the status of players sitting on a yellow card and the head coach does not seem like that will be a factor in how he approaches the game.

“That’s not a topic right now, although I need to say it’s maybe a topic for next year. I think it’s really tough to come through these rounds in Europe without suspensions. There are more games now but you still have a suspension after three cards,” Kompany stated. “If you get this far with only three yellows, you’ve done well but will still be suspended for a semi-final. That’s tough. I think this suspension rule is a bit aggressive. It’s the same for everyone. But I’d think about it again for next year. This logic is too harsh. But it’s not a topic for today.”

Finally, Kompany is counting on fans to help Bayern Munich fall victim to the remontada.

“I played at the Allianz Arena as an opponent and felt it. The stadium can force an opponent down. And I hope no fans come tomorrow who got their tickets as a neutral. Have a tea and honey beforehand and use all your voice,” said Kompany.

If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…

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