Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany admitted he was left perplexed by the new Champions League format, despite his team securing a vital 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night.
The revamped 36-team tournament, which kicked off this season, has coaches and fans alike struggling to make sense of the complex new standings and qualification scenarios. Gone is the familiar comfort of the old group stage.
I don’t look at the table because, honestly, I don’t yet understand it. It will look good if we win a few more matches.
Vincent Kompany, Bayern Munich coach
A Narrow Victory
Bayern needed a first-half goal from defender Kim Min-Jae to battle past 10-man PSG and claim a third win in five matches. The hard-fought victory lifted the Bavarians to 11th place with nine points, just one point off the coveted top-eight spots that guarantee a ticket to the knockout stage.
PSG, meanwhile, languish in 26th with a mere four points, currently outside the playoff positions. With three games remaining in the first phase, the pressure is mounting on the star-studded French side.
A Format Overhaul
In the redesigned Champions League, the traditional group stage has been replaced by a single league table. Each team plays eight different opponents, half at home and half away, with the top eight finishers advancing directly to the round of 16.
Those placing ninth to 24th enter a two-legged playoff, vying for the remaining spots in the next round. It’s a format that aims to create more marquee matchups but has left many in the football world scratching their heads.
What’s important is to reach our goal. If we win our remaining games we have a chance to make the top eight.
Vincent Kompany
Focused on Improvement
Despite the confusion, Kompany remains optimistic about his team’s chances. The Belgian, in his debut season at the Bayern helm, praised his squad’s performance against PSG.
“I’m obviously happy. Our pressing in the first half was very good. The discipline was there,” he said. “We could have scored perhaps one or two more goals, but the result is good.”
With European heavyweights like Barcelona, Liverpool, and Manchester City also navigating the new format, the path to Champions League glory has never been more unpredictable. As Kompany and his fellow coaches continue to decipher the standings, one thing is certain – every match matters in this brave new world of European football.
We are on the right track, but working to become even better.
Vincent Kompany
