Bayern's Vincent Kompany reveals the reason why he won't follow José Mourinho's example
Paris is the place to be tonight, but the visiting head coach will not be in his usual location unless, maybe, he finds a better solution.
There will be no Vincent Kompany on the sidelines in Bayern Munich’s Champions League semifinal first leg, and the reason traces back to a moment of frustration that has now faded, at least in public.
Why no Kompany for Bayern in Paris?
The Bayern head coach is serving a touchline ban against Paris Saint-Germain after being booked for dissent in the quarterfinal win over Real Madrid. The yellow card came as he reacted angrily to a foul by Antonio Rüdiger on Josip Stanišić that went unpunished in the buildup to a goal for the Spaniards.
UEFA’s restrictions are tighter than they used to be. Kompany can travel with the squad and arrive at the stadium as normal, but from that point on he’s cut off. No dressing room access, no in-game communication, and no use of a phone from the stands. He’ll watch from a private box under supervision, while assistant Aaron Danks takes charge in the technical area.
“I have 100% confidence in the staff and everyone else as well,” Kompany said in the pre-match press conference.
Kompany rules out ‘doing a Mourinho’
How much of a difference it will make, we’ll not really be able to judge until after the game, but these contests can be decided on small margins. Whether or not Kompany will attempt some creative move to avoid the punishment, even for a moment, seems more clear.
When asked by a journalist if he might take inspiration from José Mourinho’s famous escape, he laughed it off. And with good reason.
“I’m 1.92m tall,” he joked. “So unfortunately I don’t fit in any laundry basket.”
The massive game kicks off at 9 p.m. local time in Paris, which is 3 p.m. ET / 12 noon PT and you will be able to follow all the build up, live coverage and the reaction right here. The inimitable Joe Brennan will be in the Champions League hot seat from around 90 minutes before KO. It’s not one you’ll want to miss.
Related stories
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.
Complete your personal details to comment