Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich faced off this Tuesday at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of their 2025-2026 Champions League semi-final (the second leg is on Wednesday, May 6). The match ended in a 5-4 victory for PSG. After the game, Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany spoke at a press conference.
Kompany: “We will do everything to win, and we will need our fans.”
“Isn’t what you and Luis Enrique played tonight ultimately the very essence of football?”
“Football is complex; we could debate it for ages. In my opinion, no style of play is superior to another. When I go to England, to the Championship, the fans love to see long balls, and it makes for good matches. Some teams play a magnificent catenaccio.” Tonight was a clash between two teams that like to play attacking football; neither team wanted to cede possession to the other. And that’s what makes for matches like this.
Are you confident about qualifying for the final?
We saw today that the match comes down to details: a penalty, a corner… These elements will be important in the return leg. But the most important thing is the support of the fans. So, if you’ve bought a ticket and you’re not feeling well as kickoff approaches, give it to someone else. It’s important for us that 75,000 people give their all to help the team win next week. We’re going to do everything we can to win, and we’ll need our supporters.
Kompany: “I expect a similar type of match.”
Are you aware that you’ve been part of one of the most legendary matches in football?
I have to admit that on the way to this conference room, I was told that several times, so I’m starting to realize it. But I’m lucky it’s not a final, otherwise we would have lost. The final will be next week. I expect a similar match, although I hope we don’t concede any goals,” he said, as reported by Le Parisien.
It’s hard not to agree with Kompany after this completely crazy match. Of course, every coach would have preferred to see their team display more control and solidity. But you also have to recognize the quality of the opponent, and there’s no question of abandoning your playing philosophy.
We witnessed a particularly spectacular match that could well go down in history. Its place in the collective memory will also depend somewhat on the return leg, but it’s already been a special evening. All football fans were able to appreciate the pace and the level of play.
Now, each team will prepare for the match in Munich next Wednesday. And of course, there’s the league this weekend. But it’s this second encounter that will be on everyone’s minds. Both teams should experience periods of highs and lows. The challenge is to give their all to try and achieve maximum dominance and efficiency.
It’s a huge challenge for both teams. This top-of-the-table clash will undoubtedly be spectacular, and predicting who will advance to the final remains difficult. They will certainly have great merit and will likely be considered favorites against Atlético Madrid or Arsenal. Even so, a final is always special, and that status doesn’t guarantee victory.
