Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany has looked back on one of his most unforgettable defeats of his playing career against Liverpool at Anfield in April 2014, when a Kompany mis-hit clearance fell to Philippe Coutinho for the winner in the 78th minute against Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool.
At the time, Liverpool looked set to go on and win the Premier League title after the 3-2 win. However, that did not materialise, but it doesn’t make the loss any easier for Kompany to forget.
With the Belgian scoring his last goal for Man City against Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City in 2019 to all but seal the Premier League title for the Citizens at the Etihad, Kompany’s career has aligned with Rodgers’ managerial career in England.
However, it will be a game played in Scotland between German giants Bayern and Celtic tomorrow night in Kompany’s first Champions League knockout game as a coach.
With the Belgian paying tribute to Rodgers’ team’s style of play at his pre-match press conference tonight.
Kompany said: (Sports Illustrated), “As a player you go to bed, call your wife and watch Netflix till you fall asleep. As a coach, a Champions League away game is different.
“I remember my last game at the Etihad for Manchester City against Brendan Rodgers. It didn’t go well for us, even though we needed to win. They pressed, had lots of possession and made it really tough for us to get the ball back.
“They have good attackers. Rodgers had the same at Leicester, at Liverpool – I can see his impact on the team here as well.”
Kompany is more experienced than most in knowing what he will face from a Brendan Rodgers team as a player. However, it can’t be compared as a manager going up against Celtic tomorrow night.
It will be a huge test for Kompany as a coach. Bayern go into the game as favourites, with the majority of the expectations on them, while Celtic will look to put in a good performance and see where it takes them.
It couldn’t be two coaches at more different stages of their careers—Rodgers is in his prime, whereas Kompany is still learning, having failed to keep Burnley in the Premier League last season.
He was a surprise appointment for Bayern in the summer, but tomorrow night will be a real test of whether he is ready to handle the pressure of going to Paradise under the lights in the Champions League.
