Kompany determined: "We want to win the Champions League!" | OneFootball

With a bang against FC Chelsea, FC Bayern kicks off the new Champions League season tonight (9 pm, DAZN). However, not only the sporting signs made headlines before the game - a remarkable statement by Uli Hoeneß and the reactions to it dominated the press conference.

Honorary President Uli Hoeneß had recently surprisingly compared Bayern to TSG Hoffenheim and assigned them an outsider role in the Champions League. However, coach Vincent Kompany did not agree with this view.

"Let's see what happens. Everyone is 100 percent excited about the Champions League. We want to win the Champions League. There is no Bayern player or coach who would say otherwise," the Belgian made clear.

At the same time, he warned against excessive expectations: "Others want that too. We are playing against the best teams in Europe. The only task now is Chelsea, but the dream remains."

Kane: "Bayern is never an outsider"

Photo: IMAGO

Harry Kane also made it clear that he has little use for the outsider label. "A club like Bayern always expects to win every competition. I wouldn't say we are outsiders, even though we are playing against the best teams in Europe," said the star striker.

Kompany, meanwhile, recalled the difficult conditions during last year's exit against Inter Milan: "We had nine injured players in the last game against Inter and still played well. At PSG, for example, everyone was fit in the knockout phase. We didn't have that luxury." For the new attempt, he hopes for an injury-free squad: "Of course we hope that we always have the best players available."

Tough schedule, clear message

In the group stage, the Munich team faces a tough schedule: In addition to Chelsea, they also have to play against Paris Saint-Germain and FC Arsenal - two more heavyweights of European football. The schedule is tight, the squad comparatively small. But the route remains clear: fight and be at the forefront.

Kane spoke openly about the burdens of the previous season: "February 2025 was very difficult, physically and mentally, because we had to play against Celtic in the playoffs. That was a tough time. But the playoffs do not prevent success, as PSG showed last season. Of course, we want to make it to the top eight and avoid the playoffs."

Bayern is combative - and makes it clear before the start of the Champions League: they want nothing to do with the role of outsiders.

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