Vincent Kompany has made the message clear ahead of Bayern Munich’s trip to Viking: this is a Champions League match Bayern must treat with full seriousness.
After last weekend’s 2-2 draw with FC Augsburg, Kompany said Bayern cannot approach the game as if the result is a formality, even if they travel north as the heavy favorite. For him, the issue is not only about tactics or the surface. It is about mentality, focus and the ability to handle whatever the night brings.
Kompany says Bayern cannot switch off
Kompany stressed that Champions League games always bring their own challenge and said Bayern must not give Viking any reason to believe the match is being treated as unimportant. The coach said his players need to go in prepared for the idea that anything can happen.
He also noted that Bayern already flew in early to train on the artificial turf before the match. That preparation, he suggested, should help remove distractions and keep the focus on performance rather than conditions.
Experience on the touchline and in Norway
Kompany also touched on Viking’s co-manager setup, saying he had a similar arrangement at Anderlecht, where he shared an office, watched videos and exchanged ideas with coaching staff while still playing. He said those kinds of working relationships can make decisions feel more natural because responsibility is shared.
When asked about tactics, Kompany was cautious about drawing too many conclusions. He pointed to changes he had seen from Norwegian sides, including Bodø/Glimt, and said several teams in the country are brave, clever and willing to cover a lot of ground. He also referenced Rosenborg from his own playing days and said a lot of good work has been done in Norway.
Artificial turf is part of the backdrop, not the excuse
The artificial turf has become a talking point before the match, but Kompany downplayed its impact. He said he never played on artificial turf during his own career, with COVID and a lockdown period cutting off what might have been one of his final chances. Even so, he said it is nothing unusual for Bayern now and should not be used as a distraction.
His broader point was simple: at this level, teams are expected to be well prepared physically and mentally. Bayern have done the work, Kompany said, and now they need to show that it carries over when the game begins tomorrow.
