There are posters that go beyond the simple framework of football, meetings that awaken memories, scars and intertwined dreams. This clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final belongs to this rare, almost mythical category. Over the years, their confrontations have drawn a tense fresco, made up of unbreathable European nights, cruel details and unfinished revenge. We remember the 2020 final during Covid-19 won by the Bavarians, the revenge taken by the Parisians at the Club World Cup. Without forgetting the six other duels played since the Final Four in Lisbon. This time again, everything seems to have come together to write a new incandescent chapter. The first leg, at the Parc des Princes this Tuesday evening, will bring this very special atmosphere of great Parisian evenings with the fervor and apprehension of the games that should not be missed. Title holders, Luis Enrique’s troops are advancing with the weight of their new status, that of a team that we are no longer chasing but that we are waiting for around the corner.
Opposite, Bayern does not arrive as a designated victim but as an assumed pretender, strong in its dynamics and its history, with this almost cultural certainty of always being there when Europe calls. In this setting full of history and tension, the Munich residents arrive at full speed after having validated their Bundesliga title and, in the process, won a place in the final of the German Cup by dominating Bayer Leverkusen. An impressive dynamic which sends a clear message to Paris Saint-Germain. But facing him stands a Parisian team capable of imposing stifling sequences of play, provided they control their midfield, possibly weakened by certain physical uncertainties including Vitinha. Previous confrontations have often been battles of balance, where each error was paid at a high price. More than a semi-final, this double confrontation will pit two visions of the game, two institutions and two moments of exceptional form. A predicted collision between what Europe is strongest at today, with a simple promise in the background that nothing will be left to chance.
Kompany suspended but…
During the quarter-final return against Real Madrid (4-3), Vincent Kompany received his third yellow card of this European campaign, leading to an automatic suspension according to UEFA disciplinary regulations. He will not be there tomorrow evening at the Parc des Princes. A hard blow for Bayern which was not really a subject during the preparation for the meeting. “Where will I be sitting? Somewhere in the stadium, but not too far from you. I don’t know the stadium very well yet. The procedures are clear. I know what I can do and what I can’t do, for how long, and how I can support the team. But I will not play this match. You know I’m not happy with the way I was suspended. I don’t think it’s fair, but it’s just a matter of us working through this as a team. We can do it. My assistant? Danks also has experience. He spent time on the bench in England, in the Premier League. He also plays an active and important role in training. He also usually plays a more vocal role, both in training and in matches. I have 100% confidence in the staff and everyone else“, declared the Belgian coach.
Jokingly, Kompany promised not to be able to do “a Mourinho” who had sneaked into the locker room, hidden in a laundry bag, despite his suspension. “I’m 1.92 meters tall, I can’t fit in a laundry basket unfortunately! There is a coach who knows what it’s like not to stay on the bench. It’s me. I was player-coach my first year. The rule is to be on the ground. But if you’re injured, you don’t have the right to sit on the sidelines. I have been injured countless times and played many matches in very different places and atmospheres. Unfortunately, I have a lot of experience in this area.“. A particularly regulated sanction, the European body applying strict rules which notably prohibit any access to the locker room and any interaction with the team during the match, in accordance with article 69 of the regulations. In this context, Kompany had already had to experience the qualification against the Merengues in a remote position, forced to follow instructions from outside the field and under surveillance, a situation that he himself had described as “too strict”.
Again concerned for the semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes, the Bayern Munich coach will have to apply the same protocol. Separate arrival from the group once the bus has parked, ban on joining the locker room, limited speech beforehand then following the match from a box under UEFA surveillance, without telephone or communication with the staff during the match. “We worked with him all season. We have internalized all of this. Our mentality won’t change just because he’s not on the sidelines. He brings me so much, especially his vision as a defender. He was one of the best defenders of his generation. He’s a model for me. It’s incredible to have him as a coach, I’m progressing and I’m very happy to work with him. We have already played against Paris and we know them. It’s very difficult. Ousmane recovers the ball all over the field. It’s a bit like us with Harry. They try to destabilize the opponent with a lot of movement. We will try to manage this. They have such a good team, they not only have Ousmane, but many other players. It’s a very complete team», continued Dayot Upamecano in the press room at the Parc des Princes. On the bench, his assistant Aaron Danks will take over to lead the team. A heavy constraint for a coach renowned for his total involvement in the preparation of matches, at a time when every detail counts in a shock of this level.
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