Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Basking in Celtic Triumph, Aiming for Leverkusen and Champions League Glory
After ending their prolonged away misery in the Champions League, Bayern Munich’s players celebrated their triumph over Celtic Glasgow with a brief champagne toast on their flight home.
Kompany’s Composure Amidst the Praise
Vincent Kompany, Bayern’s manager, sipped his drink sparingly as his ecstatic boss, Jan-Christian Dreesen, hailed the team’s "magnificent" and "exceptional" performance in his post-match speech. Despite the praise, there was no time for the players to revel or celebrate their 2-1 victory, as they turned their attention to their upcoming Bundesliga clash with Bayer Leverkusen.
Masterful Matchplan and Momentum
"Our goal is to win trophies," Kompany declared. The Belgian settled into his seat on the charter flight, his mind already engaged in crafting the game plan for Bayer. Bayern’s eight-point lead over the defending champions means that a victory on Saturday could effectively seal the Bundesliga title in their favor.
"It was a great game for our team spirit," Joshua Kimmich rejoiced.
The squad’s swift banquet visit to the dimly lit banquet hall surprised even Dreesen. "They almost arrived before us. That’s something we’ve never seen," the 57-year-old said of their "unconventional" appearance. "It’s clear that you’re eager to return to our routine before Saturday’s demanding match. Looking into Vincent’s eyes, I can tell he agrees with me."
Resilience and Resistance Amidst Early Setback
Bayern’s players, adorned in their red and white training kits, had little time to savor the tenderloin steak with whiskey pepper sauce or tandoori chicken. Their victory over Celtic secured a solid starting position for the playoff return leg at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday, while also providing them with momentum for their crucial clash against Leverkusen, who remain unbeaten in their last five competitive matches.
"We want to carry this positive momentum and the euphoria from winning the playoff first leg into the next match," said sporting director Max Eberl.
The game also served as a test of Bayern’s resilience, as they conceded an early goal to Daizen Maeda. "It’s possible to concede a goal, that’s not the end of the world, but you can’t lose your momentum," said Konrad Laimer. Was this one of Kompany’s highly anticipated "key moments"?
First True Away Victory in Europe
After suffering painful away defeats at Aston Villa (0-1), Barcelona (1-4), and Feyenoord Rotterdam (0-3), Bayern finally secured their long-awaited first genuine away victory in Europe this season. The win in Glasgow followed their earlier triumph in Gelsenkirchen against Shakhtar Donetsk (5-1).
"We didn’t collapse. That’s important," said captain Manuel Neuer.
Neuer chuckled when asked if it was time to chill the champagne for the league title celebration. "It’s always chilled, but we need to earn it first," he said. "I believe it’s about time we beat them, now that we’re the better team again."
Upamecano’s Stellar Performance
In Bayern’s victory, defender Dayot Upamecano shone brightly in the intense atmosphere of Celtic Park. The Frenchman was delighted with the triumph on "a difficult ground inside a magnificent stadium." His selection as man of the match, after facing criticism in the past, was met with joy from both his superiors and teammates.
"Upa is an outstanding center-back for me, and he proved it today. When a defender is named man of the match, it holds even more significance because it’s a rare occurrence," Eberl stated.
Eberl’s Attempt to Calm Transfer Talk
Ahead of Saturday’s top match, Eberl attempted to quell the hype surrounding Florian Wirtz, the Bayer Leverkusen prodigy dubbed a "dream" acquisition by Bayern’s honorary president, Uli Hoeneß. "We haven’t discussed Florian Wirtz or any other Leverkusen player extensively. We believe it’s inappropriate to raise such issues, especially ahead of a crucial game," the 51-year-old said.
However, Eberl’s wish may go unanswered. The duel on Saturday could turn out to be the final meeting between Bayern and Bayer this season. Should Bayern advance against Celtic, they face the prospect of colliding with Atlético Madrid or—fatefully—Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League round of 16.
