Kompany: The important thing about contract renewal is to avoid unwarranted speculation that Stanisic and Gnabry will be absent
About renewing the contract with Bayern
- I didn’t think too much about the timetable because I have been busy with preparations for the game. When this topic was brought up, my only request was that it not become a big topic so that we could quickly refocus our attention on the next game. It is important for me to avoid lengthy discussions and unfounded speculation and instead deal with the matter quickly and clearly.
About the decision to stay in Munich
- I have a very happy personal life in Munich and it is very suitable for families with children, which helps me a lot. Also, my work environment is very healthy – I hope to maintain that calmness. I know this is Bayern Munich, but when I come to work every morning, even after losing, I still have a very good working environment and there are not many places that can compare to Bayern Munich.
About the game against Club Brugge
- We will be playing a Belgian team - but I spent my whole youth at Anderlecht. So on the one hand it's a fierce rivalry - but on the other hand I also know some of the Belgian or English players there, and Nick Hayne the manager, and it's a special story. But if I just think about myself, the main thing I feel is competition.
Let’s talk about Bruges again
– Club Brugge is very hard-working and very Belgian. Their performance in European competitions has always been good. They are not an easy opponent to deal with. They are very dangerous. Therefore, adequate preparation is very important.
About your relationship with Club Brugge
– From the age of 6, I have known about the rivalry with Club Brugge. I know a lot of the people there, I've played with them for a long time and have a lot of respect for them, it's a Belgian side. But in the end for me Bayern Munich was decisive.
About Stanisic and Gnabry
- neither of them will play in this game.
About Anderlecht and Club Brugge
– I won’t talk about Brugge in the context of Anderlecht, that’s a completely different situation. As a fan, I support Anderlecht. Club Brugge are developing well and they deserve to be where they are now.
Regarding the racial discrimination encountered in the past game against Club Brugge
- This is a very difficult issue. As you mentioned, I am the captain of the national team and have played for this team for 17 years. However, to be called a "brown monkey" on the pitch is not easy to accept. I don't know how to deal with this - right now I'm just focused on this game and don't want to be distracted by anything else. I was speechless after that game and still am today, four years later. I am only focusing on the game and playing against the opponents, they have nothing to do with it.
About playing against Club Brugge during the player era
- Anderlecht has a Bayern feeling: if it cannot win, it is not enough. Financially, we were not on the same level as Club Brugge at that time. Our team is very young, which is never a bad thing, there's always a lot of fight and passion - a real classic showdown!
About the winning streak
- We must not underestimate our opponents. We must always maintain the high quality of the team in order to continue this winning streak. Every win is a reward, and when we think back to the few times we lost, the overwhelming feeling of joy our opponents felt – we don’t want to give that feeling of victory to our opponents. Even though we lose sometimes, we never give up easily and that will never happen.
About pre-match preparation
- Playing against Bruges is always dangerous, but we respect every opponent - whether it is against Dortmund or Chelsea, our preparations are always the same. The key is whether the players are at their best and confident. The game is about winning and mentality, but the one constant for us is that we will fight until the last minute.
About Boy
- This is always an important story. Gnabry and Goretzka have also gone through tough times. The important thing is that our players at Bayern never lack talent. We can have different opinions on who should play, but we all believe that the players in our squad can perform at 100% in any situation.
For Boy, this is no surprise - anyone who has seen him perform at Galatasaray knows that he is extremely talented. Sometimes, it's not easy to find your place at Bayern. But if the players stay confident, they can show their quality. I'm happy for him because he's done it now. Whether it's Dier, Goretzka, Gnabry or now Boy, this beautiful story has always been the same.
