Kompany faces former club: Tough match, great occasion | OneFootball

On the 3rd matchday of the Bundesliga, FC Bayern hosts Hamburger SV at the Allianz Arena. For coach Vincent Kompany, the duel against the Hanseatic team is no ordinary game – after all, the Belgian laced up his boots for HSV from 2006 to 2008. At the matchday press conference, the 38-year-old spoke openly about his memories of a turbulent time in northern Germany.

Kompany, who played for only a few clubs throughout his career, emphasized that he always maintains a connection to his former teams – and Hamburg holds a special place among them. “I didn’t have many clubs in my career. That’s why I’ve always kept the connection to my clubs in Hamburg, Manchester, and Anderlecht,” he explained.

Sportingly, the time at HSV was not always easy, Kompany admitted. Yet, it was the human side that shaped him: “HSV was not easy for me sportingly back then, I must honestly say. But the club was just very, very warm. The time in Hamburg was personally not easy, but still very beautiful.”

The current Bayern coach particularly recalled the moving and difficult personal circumstances during his HSV years: “My mother died during this time and my sister had cancer, I believe I was also injured for a long time during this period. It was not easy, but I found many friends in Hamburg and received a lot of support.”

Respect for the Promoted Team

Photo: IMAGO

Besides personal memories, Kompany also focused on the sporting task. As the coach of the German record champions, he is aware of the favorite role but warns of caution: “We are always favorites at home. But of course, every game has its dangers.”

Looking at the promoted team from Hamburg, which enters the Bundesliga with a lot of confidence after their promotion, Kompany added: “HSV is a team that has gained a lot of confidence with their promotion. That can always be dangerous. But I always find it good when the clubs from Munich and Hamburg play against each other. They are two very beautiful cities and there is a certain tradition in this duel.”

For Kompany, the game is thus more than just a routine Bundesliga appointment. It is a reunion with a club that accompanied him during a decisive phase of his life – and at the same time, a task he will approach with full concentration.

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