MUNICH — Ahead of a significant Champions League clash scheduled for Wednesday, Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany struggled to articulate what distinct qualities make Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz stand out. When posed with a question regarding the distinctions between Wirtz and Bayern’s rising star Jamal Musiala, and what insights they could possibly gain from each other, Kompany expressed difficulty in providing a straightforward answer.
Initially, Kompany attempted to contribute to the conversation, stating that each player must navigate their own developmental journey, which would naturally lead to individual growth pathways. He regarded having such talents as an advantage for German football, emphasizing the need for his team to be at their peak performance against Leverkusen in Munich. However, he ultimately concluded that it might be better not to comment further. “I’m trying to be respectful, but guys, other questions!” he exclaimed during the press conference preceding the first leg of their round of 16 encounter.
Acknowledging the relevance of the question, Kompany added, “It’s a good question. I would perhaps have asked it in your position, but still, perhaps you’d feel the same if you were sitting in my seat.” The speculation around Wirtz’s potential transfer to Bayern has been ongoing, particularly after Bayern influence and former president Uli Hoeneß expressed his desire to see the 21-year-old attacking midfielder play for the Bavarian champions in the future.
In the same press engagement, Kompany informed that midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovi? would be unavailable for the upcoming match due to illness. This revelation underscores the challenging nature of the forthcoming match, given Bayern Munich’s struggle to secure a victory against Leverkusen in their last three encounters this season. Their recent Bundesliga meeting resulted in a goalless draw, with Leverkusen maintaining a dominant presence throughout. Additionally, Leverkusen eliminated Bayern from the German Cup and their initial meeting in Munich concluded in a 1-1 draw, a match where Bayern showed more promise.
Since the appointment of Xabi Alonso as Leverkusen coach in October 2022, Bayern has been unsuccessful in overcoming Leverkusen in six consecutive games, highlighting the formidable test that awaits them.
