Bayern Munich’s manager, Vincent Kompany, has indicated that the upcoming Club World Cup quarter-final showdown against Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday promises to be a captivating affair, largely due to the teams’ similar “extreme” playing styles.
Both PSG, under the guidance of Luis Enrique, and Kompany’s Bayern, who have clinched titles in their respective leagues of France and Germany, share a penchant for ball dominance, high pressing, and an attacking mindset.
“Both teams excel at making effective use of possession almost every match, whether facing deep defences or high pressing, and everything in between,” Kompany remarked during a press conference on Friday.
“This tends to create what we’ve often referred to as a thunderstorm, a perfect storm of sorts. These encounters are always compelling, and… I would definitely pay to watch it.“
On Saturday, both Bayern and PSG can take comfort in the fact that the roof at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta will shield them from any storm-related disruptions, with Kompany suggesting that this match should be a real spectacle.
“If I were a neutral spectator, I’d be keen to see this game for sure,” he stated. “Both teams play with distinctly ‘extreme’ principles, which makes the matchups all the more intriguing.“
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Despite their formidable status as Champions League victors, Kompany confessed that there was no other team he would prefer to face than PSG.
“There’s no doubt they will bring their very best tomorrow, but I view this as a challenge that excites me,” he explained.
“If I had a choice to pick any team to compete against, as a professional athlete and competitor, it would always be the winners, and they are the champions, giving us a chance to compete with them.“
“It’s undoubtedly a tough challenge, possibly the most difficult one, but that’s what we are here for, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.“
‘Completely Overblown’
The Belgian coach also praised PSG’s Luis Enrique, who achieved a treble with the French side.
Back in November, PSG suffered a 1-0 defeat to Bayern, but Kompany felt that the backlash aimed at the Spaniard during that time was excessive.
“I followed his press conference on one of the large screens, and the questions directed at him were utterly overblown,” Kompany stated.
“There were really tough questions, sweeping statements, declaring his failure in the role—it’s all quite dramatic.
“However, I recall observing his team before our match; in many instances, they should have won by a significant margin, but somehow it ended in draws or losses, which didn’t reflect their dominance or team spirit.
Kompany expressed his satisfaction in seeing Luis Enrique’s determination finally vindicated.
“It’s heartening to witness consistency paying off for him, particularly that he had the strength to persist,” said the coach.
“This isn’t merely a compliment; it’s a fact… it’s fascinating to revisit this rematch six months down the line and observe how much can change.“
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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