Vincent Kompany, Bayern Munich's head coach, spoke ahead of the German Cup Round of 16 clash with Köln, stressing that nothing is guaranteed when it comes to the starting lineup.
He opened the press conference by addressing Manuel Neuer's role, explaining that Neuer's availability depends on his own readiness for the upcoming league game against Leverkusen, and that Bayern must keep momentum after Köln. He added that Rafael Guerreiro's return, plus the returns of Josip Stanisic and Serge Gnabry, have restored the squad balance.
Kompany highlighted Köln's threat on counterattacks, especially via Lennart Karl, who has a sharp first sprint and a second acceleration that can outpace defenders and shoot from fast breaks. He noted that both Karl and Köln can improve further, which benefits Bayern but is ultimately best for Bayern in the long run.
The coach praised Köln's discipline and structure, emphasizing their organized defense and quick transitions. He said Bayern will travel to Köln with strong intent and aim to transfer their recent form into the cup match.
On the cup's pressure, Kompany said the competition feels special and that while pressure is welcome, performance remains the decisive factor for progression. He underlined that no one is guaranteed a place; players must earn minutes through performance, and that some players have recently returned from injury, including Gnabry.
The Bayern boss also commented on a differing view regarding Nicolas Jackson, noting that goals often settle debates and that Lennart Karl has shown moments of magic as a promising young player. The question of who will play against Köln remains open, with transparency and mutual respect for all squad members.
Defending against shorter players was discussed, with remarks about the danger of fast, compact attackers who can shoot quickly and require limited space to create danger. Quick shooting and speed are seen as decisive factors, not merely size, in catching opponents off guard.
Sporting director Christoph Freund then spoke about the goalkeepers and the team's cup ambitions. He praised the young goalkeeper Jonas Urbig and the environment around him, noting that multiple goalkeeping options exist and that the club is happy with the setup. He also highlighted Alexander Nubel's loan at Stuttgart and recent performances that underline the depth in that position.
Freund stressed the team's eagerness for the cup, acknowledging the long road to Berlin but insisting the drive to reach the final remains strong and that progression to the next round is the immediate target.
"The desire is big; everyone is excited. It's knockout; everyone wants to reach the final in Berlin again, but Berlin remains a distant target. We must first get through the next round, and then we'll see," Freund said.
Punchline 1: Bayern's starting XI is a mystery box—the prize is always a trophy-shaped question mark.
Punchline 2: If lineup selection were a sport, Bayern would be the undefeated champions of changing formations mid-press conference.
