SOCCER: Bayern out to challenge PSG's European bragging rights, says Kompany

POISSY, France — Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain have every right to call themselves the best team in Europe, Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany said on Monday, as he praised the French side ahead of their semifinal clash but insisted his team aims to reach that same level next season.

PSG head coach Luis Enrique had earlier described Bayern Munich as Europe’s most consistent team ahead of Tuesday’s first leg in Paris, while also maintaining that his own side remain the continent’s strongest after winning the Champions League. Kompany said he had no intention of disputing those claims.

“I think the title holders are always in the right to claim certain things, but I hope next season I will be in the position to say the same,” Kompany told reporters.

“We are fighting for the title that PSG already conquered, and they deserve all the praise. If they see it that way, I don’t have anything to add. But we want to be in that position, and we want to have what they have.”

Bayern Munich have already faced PSG multiple times in recent European campaigns, with Kompany’s side winning both encounters in the Champions League league phase this season and last season. However, PSG came out on top when the two clubs met at the Club World Cup in July.

The Belgian coach was also asked how his team plans to deal with PSG’s attacking talent, which includes Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé, and Désiré Doué.

“I can give you another question: what are they going to do with our strikers?” Kompany said. “So it goes both ways.”

“Both teams are extremely creative in their positioning and in one-on-one situations, and both can find solutions in tight spaces. There are no real secrets. It comes down to details, intensity, and energy.”

Kompany added that familiarity could play a small role in the tie, given the number of recent meetings between the sides.

“The only advantage we might have is that we’ve played PSG quite a lot recently, but it’s the same for them. They also have to solve our problems,” he said.

The Bayern coach will not be on the bench for the match in Paris after receiving a one-game suspension following his third yellow card of the competition in the previous round against Real Madrid. He will instead watch from the stands.

“I’ll be sitting somewhere in the stadium, not too far from the team, but I don’t really know my way around this stadium yet,” Kompany said.

“There’s probably no manager with more experience of not sitting on the bench and still coaching than me, since I started my coaching career as a player-manager.”

Kompany also expressed frustration over his suspension but said Bayern must adapt.

“I’m not happy with the way I was suspended. I don’t think it’s fair,” he said. “But right now, it’s about solving it as a team, and we can do that.” -Reporting by Trevor Stynes; Editing by Ken Ferris/Reuters