„This is not a title!“: Kompany puts the brakes on record euphoria at FC Bayern | OneFootball

FC Bayern not only celebrated their next away win witha 3-1 victory at 1. FC Köln, but also completed the best first half of the season in Bundesliga history. At the subsequent press conference, head coach Vincent Kompany assessed the success – objectively, reflectively and with a clear attitude. Despite the historic record, the Belgian did not want to give rise to any exuberant euphoria

When asked about the new Bundesliga record, Kompany was appreciative, but at the same time deliberately reserved. „Yes, it’s always difficult to say, because it’s actually a bit of an inner conflict with my mentality that we’re somehow already celebrating a record in the middle of the season. Because that’s not a title,“ the Bayern coach explained openly

At the same time, Kompany made it clear that the team’s achievement had to be acknowledged. „I only said it to the lads, because ultimately it’s the players who have achieved it. It’s so incredibly difficult to achieve any kind of record in this club and in the Bundesliga.“ That’s why he made a conscious decision to congratulate the team. „I say to the lads: OK, you’ve done it. Congratulations, anyway.“

For Kompany, however, the focus is clearly on the future. „The second half of the season starts tomorrow and then everything is back to zero. So the first half of the season is over. Try to win the second half and then things will look good,“ said the 39-year-old. Records are a snapshot in time, sustainable success only comes at the end of the season

Satisfaction despite difficult phases of the game

photo: IMAGO

Kompany also had a differentiated view of the game itself, saying that Cologne had shown exactly what was expected. „I haven’t said anything about Cologne’s performance yet, but it was exactly what we expect today. Full of energy, unpleasant from start to finish,“ the Belgian emphasised, adding that he was all the more satisfied with his team’s reaction

Kompany particularly emphasized that his team was not only dangerous when in possession: „For me, it’s important that we’re not only good and dangerous when we have the ball, but also that we can be dangerous when we don’t have the ball by defending. And that remains one of our strengths,“ explained the Bayern coach

For Kompany, the fact that the decisive goal came from a set-piece situation fitted into the overall picture: „Of course, we have a team that prepares set-pieces and then we train for them. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t,“ he said matter-of-factly

The performance in Cologne and Kompany’s words once again show what the Bayern coach stands for: recognition for achievements, but no leaning back. The record is history – the focus is clearly on the second half of the season.