Vincent Kompany has brushed aside concerns he was not Bayern Munich’s first choice by insisting the club have done well to appoint him.
The former Manchester City and Belgium captain was confirmed as Bayern’s surprise pick to succeed Thomas Tuchel as manager after a deal was reached with relegated Burnley on Wednesday.
Kompany emerged as an unlikely front-runner for the job last week after a number of high-profile candidates including Hansi Flick, Julian Nagelsmann, Xabi Alonso and Ralf Rangnick reportedly turned it down.
Kompany led Burnley to promotion from the Championship last year but his first experience as a Premier League manager was a disappointing one, ending in the Clarets’ immediate relegation.
Yet the 38-year-old, who had a previous spell in charge of Anderlecht, remains confident in his ability.
Kompany told reporters at a press conference: “I just joined the club but I’m starting to understand a little bit the recruitment process, and I can only say that the fact that I’m here means they’re doing a very good job. That’s it.
“I know what a big club Bayern Munich is. I’m very proud but also very motivated to start. The season could start today, right away.”
Kompany asserted his appointment should not be regarded as a surprise and revealed he had attracted interest from other clubs.
Our new boss is ready to go 👊#packmas #MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/uf3M9iruJF
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) May 30, 2024
He said: “I think the aspect of being surprised is because you assume that it was the only club that called, and you assume that it was the only interest I had.
“You only assume that because I’m very private, that’s the only reason. I was actually quite fortunate to have a lot of interest from other clubs as well.”
Kompany will be under immediate pressure to regain the Bundesliga title, which the club missed out on this year for the first time since 2012, and challenge in the Champions League.
It is an obvious step up in intensity from what he faced at Turf Moor but the Belgian maintains that will not bother him.
He said: “The question about pressure, you’re going to ask me maybe another 10,000 times before the start of the season, but it’s going to be the same answer.
“I have a different way of dealing with it. It’s not part of my life.”
Kompany also dismissed worries about how he will work with elite players. He feels that, after skippering City to four Premier League triumphs, he belongs at such a level.
He said: “I’ve lived at this level for most of my career. I’ve been in these dressing rooms for most of my career.
“But in the main, you always adapt to the people and the cultures and the individuals that you have in the dressing room. I’ve learned this at every level of football.”
Kompany feels he proved to himself during the highs and lows that he experienced at Burnley that he is level-headed enough for the job.
He said: “You learn a lot about yourself. The first year, you have 46 games and we only lost three, 101 points – the highest of the highest the club has ever achieved in terms of points return.
“Then the next year, you have a tough season in the Premier League.
“What you learn about yourself in the very highs and the very lows is that you can be consistent.
“I didn’t approach players differently. I didn’t work less to prepare games.
“I have no intention to all of a sudden become a different person, and I don’t think that’s what they want.”
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Don't give up on the Premier League Dungeon Bro, Darwin Arsenal transfer market These are the same fans who say Auckland City didn't deserve to be in the Club World Cup.Brazilian teams at the Club World Cup: 4/4 through to the round of 16Argentinian teams at the Club World Cup: 0/2 through to the round of 16 lol This is what referees have to watch for 90 minutes....
Barcelona attacking midfielder Pablo Torre is closing in on a transfer to Mallorca after agreeing terms with the LaLiga club, a source has confirmed to ESPN.Mallorca and Torre's entourage held a meeting on Thursday, in which an agreement was reached with the player, who is attracted by Mallorca's project, a source said.The news was first reported by Marca.In the coming days, Mallorca will contact ...
Arsenal are in talks to sign Valencia centre-back Cristhian Mosquera, sources have told ESPN.Mosquera, 20, has made 73 LaLiga appearances in the last two seasons and sources said Arsenal are well positioned to beat off competition to the defender, who is a Spain youth international but also eligible for Colombia.RB Leipzig are also interested and Valencia have tried to renew Mosquera's contract, b...
Gyokeres makes transfer U-turn amid Man Utd and Arsenal interestViktor Gyokeres has made a transfer U-turn as he aims to force a move to Manchester United or Arsenal this summer.It had originally been assumed that Gyokeres would favour a move to Arsenal of the two English clubs, with Champions League football on offer at the Emirates. However the Gunners' continued pursuit of Benjamin Sesko from R...
Real Betis interest grows in Barrenechea’s: We have to decide if Unai wants to keep him...Aston Villa midfielder Barrenechea is attracting attention this summer as manager Unai Emery makes a decision regarding his future.Barrenechea continues to attract attention after impressing on loan at Valencia since August, namely from Real Betis. Midfield maestro, Johnny Cardoso, who seems destined fo...
Milos Kerkez opens up on Liverpool move: I think it should be every kid's dreamLiverpool signing Milos Kerkez has opened up on his move to the club this summer and why he chose the Reds over every other side.Liverpool completed the signing of Kerkez from the Cherries in a deal worth 340M as manager Arne Slot build a team fit to challenge for the Premier League title once again. The Hungary interna...
Trafford has "fully agreed personal terms with Newcastle" ahead of summer moveNewcastle United are closing in Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford who has agreed personal terms with the club.Burnley reportedly value Trafford at around 340million, which would make the 22-year-old the fifth most expensive goalkeeper of all time as the Magpies chase down their first signing of the summer transfer window...
Vivianne Miedema scored her 98th and 99th international goalsFinland Women lost their five-match unbeaten run on the eve of the 2025 UEFA Women's European Championship thanks to a 2-1 defeat to the Netherlands in a warm-up friendly before the tournament.The homes side's opening goal in Leeuwarden was a gift from the Finnish defence - in the 11th minute, Oona Siren gave the ball away cheaply inside...
Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli is challenged by Brentford's Danish midfielder Christian NorgaardIn order not to get left behind in the transfer market this summer, Mikel Arteta and the Arsenal board appear to be making various moves which could have a significant and positive impact for them in 2025/26.To date, since the Spaniard took over in the Emirates Stadium dugout, the Gunners have always bee...
Al Ain's Laba Kodjo Fodoh (centre) is congratulated by teammates after scoring his team's first goalAl Ain ended their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a 2-1 comeback victory over Wydad at Audi Field in Washington in just the third-ever meeting between a team from Morocco and one from the Middle East.Both teams knew their fate prior to kick-off - even a win would not be enough to see them progres...
- 1 Seattle Sounders vs PSG Prediction 24 June 2025
- 2 Man United close in on Bryan Mbeumo
- 3 Man Utd close in on Bryan Mbeumo! Red Devils agree £60m+ fee with Brentford as Premier League rivals iron out final transfer details
- 4 Alfie makes clear Haaland commitment to Man City
- 5 Salzburg vs Real Madrid Prediction 27 June 2025
- 6 Real Madrid reveal target as Zubimendi joins Arsenal
- 7 Liverpool cult hero waves goodbye as transfer is confirmed: It’s been an absolute honour
- 8 Marcus Rashford to Barcelona is back ON! La Liga champions ready to sanction loan deal for Man Utd outcast amid Nico Williams pursuit
- 9 Barcelona announce Garrido departure
- 10 ‘Queen of Football’ swaps kit for bikini in rivalry with Alisha Lehmann