Vincent Kompany confident in Bayern Munich’s ability to rise to Paris Saint-Germain challenge in UEFA Champions League

Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany has full belief in his players to get a result away to UEFA Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain in the French capital on Tuesday evening.

As if claiming a record 34th Bundesliga title with four games to spare and breaking the record for most goals scored in a single Bundesliga campaign ever were not enough, after his side’s scintillating 4-3 comeback victory over Mainz at the weekend, Kompany has every reason to believe his Bayern team has what it takes to get a result away in Paris.

Whilst keen not to underestimate the quality of the opposition before him, the Belgian cut a quietly confident figure in his pre-match press conference, saying: “Our team has already won at the Bernabéu this year and won in Paris. Paris are obviously still the Champions League holders, but if any team can take on this challenge, it’s us. We know how good Paris are, but we want this game.”

Watch: Mainz 3-4 Bayern – highlights

When asked as to whether he feels a boost in confidence from the fact that Bayern already defeated PSG 2-1 in the league phase on Matchday 4, Kompany was quick to point out that the semi-final poses an altogether different challenge. “These games have always been very close; sometimes we’ve won, sometimes they’ve won. It could have gone either way,” revealed the Belgian.

“We have plenty of players with experience in matches like this. Luis Enrique said it all comes down to the finer details – and that’s exactly what it will be,” he added.

However, Bayern will be travelling across the border unable to call upon the services of Serge Gnabry, Lennart Karl, Tom Bischof, and now Raphaël Guerreiro, who suffered a minor muscle injury against Mainz – a fact acknowledged by Kompany, who admitted: “We always want to have the full squad available,” before reverting to his default confidence to declare: “We’ve got the squad we need to attack this match.”

Incidentally, Kompany himself will be another absentee on the night, as he serves a one-game suspension which prevents him from occupying his usual position inside the Bayern technical area.

Not wanting to let his absence distract his players from getting the job done, the Belgian downplayed its significance, saying: “Our plans are clear. I know up until which point I can do things and how I can support the team. I’m not there for a part of it. It’s about dealing with it as a team, and we can do that.”

Assistant coach Aaron Danks is set to take charge – a man in whom Kompany has total faith. “Danksy has plenty of experience; he was on the touchline for a while in England. He usually has a very vocal role in games and training. I’ve got 100 percent confidence in the staff and everyone else.”

If news of Kompany’s suspension was expected to give PSG their own boost of confidence, the Belgian’s opposite number Luis Enrique certainly didn’t show it in his pre-match assessment. “If the teams attack very well, you have to know how to defend, so that will be key. We need to make the most of our attacks as best we can and we need to be clear on how to defend against this sort of team,” surmised the Spaniard.

Kompany likewise saw it prudent to reiterate the quality of the opposition his side is coming up against, respectfully admitting: “We’re fighting for the title that PSG won last year. They deserve every bit of praise.”

Nevertheless, his subsequent statement indicated that Bayern will not be showing the current Champions League holders too much respect, as the Belgian declared: “We want what they have. We’re hungry […] We hope that over the course of these two matches we’ll prove to be the better team.”