Kompany recalls funny moment, teases Benfica mainstay: I don't fit in a... | OneFootball

In the first preview of the Champions League semi-finals against PSG, Bayern coach Vincent Kompany addressed his absence from the bench due to suspension, assuring that the team has the quality to overcome the challenge.

The 40-year-old Belgian coach will not be able to lead his team in Paris and will be replaced on the bench by his assistant, Aaron Danks. Asked about the possibility of using tricks to communicate with the team, similar to what José Mourinho - who sent a message to a Benfica star - did in 2005, when he hid in a laundry basket to get into the Chelsea dressing room, Kompany replied with humor.

"I’m 1.92m tall, I can’t fit in a laundry basket – unfortunately!" he joked. "If there’s a coach with experience of not being on the bench, it’s me. In my first year, I was a player and a coach. The rule is that you have to be on the pitch. But if you’re injured, you can’t sit on the bench. I was injured many times and watched many matches from different places. Unfortunately, I have a lot of experience in that area," he added.

On where he will watch the match from, the coach revealed that he does not know the stadium well, but that he will be nearby. "Where am I going to sit? Somewhere in the stadium, but not too far from you. The procedures are clear. I know what I can and cannot do and how I can support the team," he explained. His confidence in Aaron Danks is total: "He already has experience. He spent some time on the bench in the Premier League. I have 100% confidence in our staff and everyone else."

Kompany played down his absence, focusing on the quality of the squad: "We can talk about goals and playing philosophy, but we need players who put the ball in the net, a goalkeeper who makes saves, and defenders who make tackles. The rest is just for discussion. The reality is that you need quality. And we have it."

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.