Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany has issued a cautionary note ahead of their Champions League encounter with Atalanta, stressing the Italian side’s considerable strength. A decision regarding star striker Harry Kane’s fitness will be finalized tomorrow.
The first leg of the tie is scheduled to kick off in Bergamo tomorrow at 20:00 GMT (21:00 CET).
The Bundesliga champions are grappling with several injury concerns. Manuel Neuer, Leon Klanac, Hiroki Ito, and Alphonso Davies are all ruled out, while Harry Kane remains a significant doubt for the match.
“Kane had a very good training session, but we will only make a decision tomorrow,” Kompany stated in his press conference. “The priority is to have him in the squad, whether he starts or not.”
Kompany Expresses Deep Respect for Atalanta
Despite Bayern Munich being widely considered favorites, Kompany emphasized the importance of learning from past results, specifically referencing Borussia Dortmund’s elimination by Atalanta in previous play-off rounds. Dortmund had initially secured a 2-0 lead in Germany, only for Atalanta to stage a remarkable comeback with a 4-1 victory in Italy.
“We are playing against a very strong team tomorrow. There are similarities in our playing styles, particularly their frequent attacks down the wings, which means our pressing needs to be perfectly timed,” Kompany explained.
“Atalanta has achieved great things, including winning the Europa League, so we absolutely cannot underestimate them. Our objective is to be as competitive as possible in every tournament. We are not afraid of anyone and want to seize every opportunity.”
When asked about the standard of Italian football compared to other European leagues, especially given Atalanta’s status as the sole Italian team remaining in the Champions League, Kompany offered his perspective.
“I understand it’s a significant topic in Italy right now. I observed Inter’s level last year, and watching Atalanta this year, I see immense talent and well-coached teams,” Kompany noted. “Dortmund, Frankfurt, and Liverpool all faced tough games against Italian opponents, so we cannot approach this match with any arrogance.”
“Atalanta is a unique opponent due to their distinctive playing style, and it presents a very interesting challenge for us as coaches. They have been steadily building to reach their current level, fostering a belief that they can achieve something special,” he added. “I’ve never played in the Italian League myself, so I’m not the best judge of the exact differences in level, but it’s likely not significant.”
Atalanta experienced a shaky start to their season in Serie A and Europe but gained considerable momentum after Raffaele Palladino took over from Ivan Juric in January. Palladino’s approach is seen as a continuation of the philosophy instilled by his predecessor and mentor, Gian Piero Gasperini.
“Atalanta has a new coach now, but you can clearly see the consistency. It’s never a guarantee, after an iconic coach like Gasperini who had such a long period of success, to find someone who can maintain that club identity,” Kompany observed. “It’s incredibly difficult, but they’ve kept that identity while also adding something new. I have immense respect for Atalanta and what they do, so I know tomorrow will be an exceptionally tough game.”
“We are accustomed to being favorites in most matches, so we have no issue embracing that role if people choose to label us as such. However, anyone who has followed football in recent years knows that Atalanta is capable of beating anyone,” Kompany concluded. “They defeated Juventus 3-0 this season and are in the Coppa Italia semi-finals, so we hold them in high regard. Anything is possible in football, but our aim is to win.”
Unlike the play-off rounds, Atalanta will host the first leg on home turf before traveling to Germany for the second leg.
“For all of us, it seemed certain that Dortmund would qualify; they appeared dominant at home and were the better team, but everything completely changed in Bergamo,” Kompany confessed. “Perhaps it was the stadium, the atmosphere, the fans, but they showed so much belief there. Italian fans are known for being quite loud, but I can assure you that the Allianz Arena on Champions League nights is also very special.”
Belgium international Charles De Ketelaere is currently sidelined, and Kompany admitted to having mixed feelings about the situation.
“As a Belgium fan, I want him fit for the World Cup. I saw Charles debut in Bruges, and I thought his move to Milan was an opportunity, but Atalanta has proven to be the perfect environment for his development. He possesses a wonderful left foot, strong physical presence, he runs extensively, and this club was absolutely the right place for him to take this step,” Kompany elaborated. “You can see what a good player he is, so it’s beneficial for us that he’s unavailable tomorrow, but I also hope he recovers soon and performs exceptionally well for the national team.”
Luis Diaz, a significant €70 million investment from Liverpool, has made a strong impact this season for Bayern Munich, contributing 20 goals and 16 assists in 35 competitive appearances.
“Lucho has performed incredibly well in terms of statistics, but I believe he offers so much more than just numbers. I often say he possesses creativity amidst chaos, and what I truly admire is the message he conveys when he plays, which reflects the team’s ethos: always fighting and striving to achieve something,” Kompany praised. “Just because we are Bayern Munich doesn’t mean we are any less hungry than other teams. It has been a pleasure to have him with us.”
