Dress rehearsal for Real? Kompany sets clear course for Pauli game | OneFootball

FC Bayern are facing a crucial phase – and the next challenge awaits them in the form of an away game at FC St. Pauli. After the strong 2:1 win at Real Madrid, the focus is now back on the Bundesliga, but the game at the Millerntor has a special significance. For Vincent Kompany and his team, it is also the dress rehearsal for the decisive second leg of the Champions League

In the press talk ahead of the match, the Bayern coach made it clear that he attaches great importance to striking the right balance. On the one hand, he wants to manage the workload, while on the other, he wants to maintain the high level from the Bernabéu game. „To be honest, I don’t know everything yet, I need the latest information from training on how the lads are feeling,“ explained Kompany

Kompany also demands Real intensity against St. Pauli

The Belgian made it clear that the approach should remain the same regardless of the opponent: „I want to have a team that is just as challenged as the one against Madrid – that has the same concentration, motivation and intensity as Madrid,“ he emphasized

Physical freshness will play a crucial role in this, and Kompany wants to decide at short notice which players are ready to bring the necessary energy to the pitch. „I want to see how fresh the players are so that they are just as energetic against St. Pauli as they were against Madrid,“ said the 40-year-old

At the same time, he made it clear that possible changes should not change the fundamental approach: „If we change, we don’t want to lose what we’ve done so far.“

Rotation as part of Bayern’s DNA

photo: IMAGO

Kompany also openly addressed the topic of rotation – and referred to the season so far, saying that the breadth of the squad in particular has been a decisive factor in the success so far. „We have to look at what we’ve done this season: we’re only at this point on 10 April because the whole team has been involved,“ he explained

Individual adjustments compared to the Real game are therefore perfectly conceivable without compromising quality. „If we make one or two changes, then we’ve been doing it this way all season,“ emphasized Kompany, pointing out that this approach was established early on in the season

One example of this is Harry Kane, who started against Real despite suffering from slight discomfort. „Harry Kane was fine after the game, he played a bit above his pain threshold. But there was no reaction the next day, that’s the most important thing,“ explained Kompany

In the end, the focus remains clear: FC Bayern want to take the momentum from Madrid with them without underestimating the strain. The coach deliberately left it open as to who will ultimately be on the pitch: „I don’t know who will play yet, I’ll think about that tonight.“

One thing is clear: the dress rehearsal against St. Pauli will be more than just a competitive match for Munich – it is an important building block on the way to the really big goals.