Bayern Munich focusing only on Augsburg clash despite hectic schedule, says Kompany
Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich is only focusing on Friday’s league game against Augsburg despite a crowded match schedule in the next 11 days, coach Vincent Kompany said on Thursday.
The Bavarians will be without midfielder Joao Palhinha and forward Mathys Tel, who picked up injuries on international duty with Portugal and France respectively, while goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is nursing a ribcage injury and is racing to be fit.
Bayern has a busy schedule coming up after facing Augsburg, with a Champions League game at home to Paris St Germain on Tuesday before the trip to Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga in just over a week.
It caps off an 11-day four-match run with the German Cup last-16 clash at home to holders Bayer Leverkusen on December 3.
“We are missing Palhinha and Mathys Tel also got a knock while with the national team,” Kompany told a press conference on Friday. “The one fear we have as a coach is for players to leave and come back injured.
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“We are playing against Augsburg. It is important that it is only about the next game. We want to deliver the performance as we did before the international break,” he said. “It is only about Augsburg and only this step is important for me today.”
Kompany is in his first season in charge but knows expectations are high and the team must remain contenders in all three competitions going into the new year.
“We’re satisfied with the season we’ve played so far in all competitions despite the two defeats in the Champions League,” said Bayern sports director Max Eberl, referring to their 1-0 defeat away to Aston Villa and 4-1 loss at Barcelona.
“It is a new format and we’re still getting to know it,” he added, with Bayern down in 17th place in the playoff spots.
“We have PSG which is a special game, Leverkusen in the Cup and Dortmund in the league. We want to start and win every single game,” Eberl said. “That is our starting point.”
Leverkusen won its first domestic double last term but Bayern, desperate to restore its national dominance, is undefeated in the Bundesliga and has quickly carved out a five-point lead at the top over second-placed RB Leipzig.
The Bavarians have 26 points, with Leverkusen, which hosts Heidenheim on Saturday, nine behind in fourth. Dortmund welcomes Freiburg, having dropped to seventh spot on 16 points, while Leipzig travels to Hoffenheim.
