The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kompany

  • Bayern’s Kompany laments EPL spending power

    Bayern’s Kompany laments EPL spending power

    Bayern manager Vincent Kompany on Friday lamented the spending power of Premier League clubs, as reports emerged of one-time Munich target Nick Woltemade signing with Newcastle.

    Speaking at a press conference in Munich, the Bayern boss, who won four league titles with Manchester City and won promotion to the English top flight with Burnley, was asked to explain the Premier League’s appeal.

    “Money,” Kompany said smiling, before comparing the financial power of promoted clubs in England to some of the continent’s best.

    Read Also: Bayern wary of Kiel’s big-game mentality, says Kompany

     “When we got promoted with Burnley, the TV rights came in and it was 100 million pounds (115 million euros, $134 million) – for a promoted team.

     “With Burnley, we were competing on the market with Frankfurt for players and with Wolfsburg. When Sunderland are buying players, they’re buying them from Leverkusen.”

  • UCL: Kompany unfazed with  ‘injury woes’ in showdown against Inter

    UCL: Kompany unfazed with  ‘injury woes’ in showdown against Inter

    Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany refused to rein in his ambitions despite an injury crisis which has ripped through the side ahead of  today’s Champions League quarter-final clash with Inter Milan.

    Bayern host this season’s Champions League final but their hopes of making it to the showpiece have been threatened by a bulging casualty ward, with several key players on the sidelines.

    Speaking  before hosting the first leg, a rematch of the 2010 final won 2-0 by Jose Mourinho’s Inter, Kompany said his side were ambitious as ever.

    “We’re looking forward and expecting the guys who will be playing tomorrow to perform and get the results for us,” he told reporters. “We can’t forget that the guys who will play tomorrow have all been part of our journey to where we are now.

    “I don’t want to complain – I don’t want to change our goals because we have injuries. My thoughts are only on what can happen if we perform at our best.”

    Bayern are likely to be without midfielder Jamal Musiala, wing-back Alphonso Davies and defenders Dayot Upamecano and Hiroki Ito for several weeks.

    Captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, winger Kingsley Coman and midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic are all out of Tuesday’s meeting and may also miss the return leg.

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    Pavlovic returned to team training on Monday, while Neuer and Coman worked individually.

    Italian champions Inter Milan sit atop the Serie A table and have conceded just two goals in 10 games in the Champions League so far this season.

    Kompany said his side needed to “have faith” in their systems and “be there in the (crucial) moments”.

    “We can talk tactically about what Inter does well. But there’s also character, heart, and emotion.

    “That’s all part of it… What’s important to me is that we’re mentally ready and show our personality.”

    Bayern midfielder Konrad Laimer said his side were “not looking for excuses”, adding the crisis would “bring the team together to overcome this as a group”.

    Calling Bayern “one of the favourites alongside Real Madrid”, Inter coach Simone Inzaghi said he could empathise with their injury woes, given the visitors’ own concerns.

    “Musiala is one of the best players in the world. It’s a heavy absence for them.

    “But thinking that Thomas Mueller or Serge Gnabry can replace him shows what kind of team Bayern have.”

    “They have important players missing just like us. We are without five players and they also have some players out,” Inzaghi told reporters.

    Inter are missing Denzel Dumfries, Medhi Taremi, Piotr Zielinski and Valentin Carboni, while Alessandro Bastoni and Federico Dimarco are doubts.

    Inzaghi said “Bastoni more yes than no. Dimarco more no than yes.”

    “We will have to suffer but there will also be times when we’ll cause Bayern problems.”

  • Bayern ‘already feels like home’ – Kompany

    Bayern ‘already feels like home’ – Kompany

    Vincent Kompany says Bayern Munich “already feels like home” after being unveiled as the manager of the German Bundesliga club.

    Bayern confirmed Kompany, 38, had been handed a three-year deal on Wednesday, replacing Thomas Tuchel.

    The Belgian suffered relegation from the Premier League with Burnley in 2023-24.

    “My mentality is that I never haven’t ever worked for a top club in my head,” Kompany said.

    “A top club is the environment you create. It’s the mentality you have towards your job in good and bad times, that’s what defines working at the top level.

    “It already feels like home.”

    Kompany began his managerial career with Anderlecht – the club where he also started his playing career.

    He led them to the Belgian Cup final in 2021-22 before leaving at the end of that season to take the reins at Burnley.

    After guiding the Clarets to the Championship title with 101 points and securing promotion to the Premier League in his first season, Kompany was unable to avoid an immediate return to the second tier as they finished 19th last term.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Bayern appoint Kompany as head coach

    Bayern finished third in the Bundesliga last term, halting their run of 11 successive titles as they fell 18 points short of champions Bayer Leverkusen.

    The Bavarian outfit ended a campaign without a trophy for the first time since 2011-12.

    “I’m eternally motivated, I wake up from the morning to the evening motivated with the intention to make everyone around me better,” added Kompany.

    “I’m not defined by the successful years in my life, it’s the moments I had tough times.

    “I don’t want to be successful on my own I want to bring as many people with me, that’s in my nature.”

  • JUST IN: Bayern appoint Kompany as head coach

    JUST IN: Bayern appoint Kompany as head coach

    Bayern Munich have appointed Vincent Kompany as their new head coach on a three-year deal.

    The Belgian, 38, succeeds Thomas Tuchel and leaves Burnley for the Bundesliga side after the two clubs agreed a compensation fee, believed to be £10.2m.

    Kompany won the Championship with Burnley in 2022-23, but the Clarets suffered relegation from the Premier League this season after finishing 19th.

    “It’s a great honour to be able to work for this club – FC Bayern is an institution in international football,” said the former Manchester City defender.

    Kompany, who retired from playing in 2020, joined Burnley from Anderlecht in 2022 and signed a five-year contract extension last year.

    However, he refused to answer questions about his future after the Clarets’ home defeat by Nottingham Forest on the final day of the season.

    Burnley said they were initially confident of keeping Kompany at Turf Moor but “the changing dynamics of the situation” made it impossible.

    “We understand the allure and prestige of a club like Bayern Munich and respect Vincent’s ambition to explore new opportunities,” the club said.

    Tuchel left Bayern this month as the club finished third in the Bundesliga – their worst league position since 2010-11.

    Bayern have struggled to find a replacement for Tuchel, whose initial exit was announced in February.

    Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann and current Austria coach Ralf Rangnick have all turned down the job.

    Read Also: Kompany decries poor refereeing in Premier League

    Talks about persuading Tuchel to stay also failed to reach a positive conclusion, leaving Bayern with a problem.

    “Vincent Kompany is a type of coach who fits in very well with FC Bayern’s playing philosophy and identity,” said Bayern’s sporting director Christoph Freund

    “He is a young, very ambitious coach who brings a lot of international experience, has his finger on the pulse of the players and knows exactly what should happen on the pitch.”

    Kompany has built a decent reputation in his time at Anderlecht and Burnley, although the Clarets’ relegation following lofty pre-season expectations has not reflected well on the Belgian.

    A four-time Premier League winner as a player with Manchester City, Kompany became Anderlecht head coach in 2020 following a spell as player-manager, before moving to Turf Moor.

    BBC

  • Bayern Munich agree deal in principle with Kompany

    Bayern Munich agree deal in principle with Kompany

    Burnley manager Vincent Kompany has agreed a deal in principle to become the new Bayern Munich coach.

    The German club moved for Kompany after a series of rejections in their search for a successor to Thomas Tuchel.

    It is understood Kompany has agreed a deal until 2027, with Bayern set to pay Burnley £10.2m in compensation.

    Craig Bellamy, Kompany’s assistant at Burnley, will not accompany the Belgian to the Allianz Arena but Floribert Ngalula and Bram Geers will form part of his backroom staff.

    Bayern had targeted Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, their former manager Julian Nagelsmann, who is currently at the helm of Germany, and Austria coach Ralf Rangnick following their decision to part with Tuchel,but the trio rejected the job.

    Read Also: Kompany decries poor refereeing in Premier League

    Tuchel held talks with Bayern earlier in May about remaining at the club, but they ended without an agreement.

    Bayern were keen to appoint a German-speaking coach and Kompany ticks that box, having played for Hamburg for two years during his playing career.

    The 38-year-old has built a decent reputation as a manager during his time at Anderlecht and Burnley.

    A four-time Premier League winner as a player with Manchester City, Kompany became Anderlecht head coach in 2020 following a spell as player-manager, before moving to Turf Moor.

    The Belgian guided Burnley to the Championship title in 2023 but the Clarets were relegated from the Premier League this season.

    BBC

  • Kompany issues verdict on £350m Chelsea transfer

    Kompany issues verdict on £350m Chelsea transfer

    Vincent Kompany has insisted that he has no issue with Chelsea’s spending habits. The Blues spent almost £350million on 11 new players in the summer transfer window – not to mention Christopher Nkunku, Malo Gusto and Andrey Santos, who had already penned deals at Stamford Bridge last year as part of a £600million spree.

    Mauricio Pochettino and his £1billion squad head into the clash against Burnley following back-to-back victories over Brighton and Fulham. As for the Clarets, they currently sit third from bottom in the Premier League but they managed to pick up their first win of the season last week, beating Luton Town 2-1.

    While the west Londoners still sit in the bottom half of the English top-flight, Kompany expects the visitors to reap the rewards of their hard work soon. The former Manchester City defender said: “They are a talented side, the first question is how unlucky they have been.

    Read Also: Minister wants sports legacies, history preserved

    “It is always the case with big clubs, having results all the time. When you look at their games, there is a very good side with very good players. It will happen at some time hopefully not at Turf Moor.”

    Then, when quizzed on Chelsea’s spending, Kompany said: “I have been part of an environment when – as a player – money could be spent. Now I am part of an environment where we are far from being the biggest spending.

    “I don’t have a single complaint about it. They have fantastic players. The exciting part for us is we can get so much better from our own resources.”

  • Kompany: City as hungry as lions

    Manchester City are as hungry ‘as lions’ as they bid to complete the domestic treble, captain Vincent Kompany has said.

    City will become the first team to win the Premier League, League Cup and FA Cup in the same season if they beat Watford at Wembley today.

    Pep Guardiola’s men claimed back-to-back Premier League titles with a 4-1 win against Brighton on the final day of the campaign and they will be looking to make history by defeating the Hornets for a third time this season.

    While they enjoyed their Premier League celebrations, Kompany insists the team are fired up for the challenge ahead.

    “It’s not about adding that achievement [the treble] to my CV, I don’t care about my CV,” Kompany told reporters ahead of today’s final, live on eir sport 1.

    “I know this team and they are like lions. When this team is hungry, they are such a special team. I’m going to do everything I can to put a bit of blood in that water, so this team gets even hungrier.

    “My style is pretty simple. Every now and then, when things are getting too comfortable, I go a little aggressive in training or I speak up and say what I think.

    “But the main thing is that these guys, together with the manager, are always able to understand what the priority is.”

  • FA CUP: Kompany ‘fit and ready’ for Palace

    FA CUP: Kompany ‘fit and ready’ for Palace

     

     

     

     

    Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany is “fit and ready” to take on Crystal Place in the FA Cup, while goalkeeper Willy Caballero will replace Claudio Bravo.

     

    City boss Pep Guardiola confirmed he has the defender available ahead of Saturday’s fourth-round tie at Selhurst Park and will make a final decision on his involvement ahead of kick-off.

     

    Kompany was an unused substitute in last week’s Premier League draw against Tottenham and has not played for 10 weeks, his last appearance coming in City’s previous meeting against Palace in November.

     

    New signing Gabriel Jesus is also in contention to play, while Guardiola confirmed Caballero will start in place of the under-fire Bravo as he continues to be preferred for cup competitions.

     

    “We will see [if he plays] – but he is fit and ready,” Guardiola said of Kompany at his pre-match media conference.

     

    “The last game he was on the bench, which means he is ready.

     

    “We are going to play Willy Caballero. He [Jesus] is fit and he has already had three weeks with us. We will see on Saturday [if he will play].”

     

    Guardiola stressed Palace represent a difficult test, despite them sitting in the league’s bottom three.

     

    He said: “Of course we want to go through and win that competition. Saturday is a final for us.

     

    “Every game is complicated, so it will be tough because of the stadium, Palace’s position and because it is away.”

  • Kompany hails City’s contract dealings

    Kompany hails City’s contract dealings

    Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has hailed the club’s close-season contract dealings.

    Manuel Pellegrini has added to his ranks with the likes of Bacary Sagna, Fernando, Willy Caballero and Eliaquim Mangala since winning the Premier League crown in May.

    However, Kompany believes the new contracts handed to himself, Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Samir Nasri and Aleksandar Kolarov provide City’s squad with a stable and experienced spine.

    “It is one thing to make new signings but it is another to make sure we have a core of players who know the league and have enjoyed success in the league – then we can move forward with a certain style and philosophy that has been successful for us,” he is quoted as saying in the British press.

    “For me it is important to see quality, new players coming but it is as important to see players like David Silva and Kolarov and Nasri remaining at the club.”

    Striker Edin Dzeko is expected to sign a new deal imminently, with coach Pellegrini saying earlier this week: “I don’t think it’s 100 per cent finished – but yes, he will renew his contract.”

    City face Liverpool in the Premier League on Monday.

  • Kompany posts boots pic

    Kompany posts boots pic

    Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany appears to have declared himself fit to return to action for the club this weekend.

    Kompany angered manager Roberto Mancini by playing in a World Cup qualifier for Belgium on Tuesday when he had not played for the club for eight weeks.

    Mancini felt the 26-year-old was risking a recurrence of his calf problem and warned that players should understand ‘there are some cases that the club is more important’.

    But Kompany, whose potential comeback had already been put back several times by City, was again not risked by Belgium in Macedonia last Friday and only featured in the return fixture this week.

    He then spoke positively about his fitness prior to the game in Brussels and now seems set to feature against Newcastle in the Barclays Premier League.

    Kompany tweeted a picture of his boots along with the caption: ‘They’re ready to roll again! :-)’

    City’s inspirational skipper last played for the champions in their FA Cup fourth-round win at Stoke on January 26.

    His call-up by Belgium irritated Mancini, who said: ‘For 60 days he didn’t play for us and we did everything, then he went to play for the national team.

    ‘If he had got another injury – if on Saturday he is not ready to play because he was with the national team, and we lose him for another month, this is not correct.’