Kompany: I would rather win the final than break records, I have close contact with Guardiola
About the team lineup
- We will see who plays tomorrow. Someone always asks: "When do the players take a break?" And when they rest, someone will ask: "Why do they rest?" We always look at the signals the players are giving and if they are in good shape, recovering well, fit and ready for the next game, then we will play them, so we will wait. Only Guerrero had a minor injury after the Leverkusen game, so we gave him some rest as a precaution.
About records
- I am not obsessed with records. I would rather win the final than break the record. But we did win a lot, and it's all about mentality: winning 16 games in a row should give you confidence, even in the tougher times.
About the connection with Guardiola
——Guardiola played a very important role in the growth of my playing career and coaching career. He is currently busy leading the team back to the top of the Premier League and we are in close contact and we have a good relationship.
About Berlin Union
- We must make a complete mental shift and change the situation. I felt it again in the last few minutes against PSG, but we can take some lessons from that game. Our performance in the second half was completely different from the first half and we had to step up defensively.
In the cup game against Cologne we gave it our all and we need to show that mentality again. It’s going to be a battle, not just about pressure and possession, but often set pieces, one-on-ones and secondaries, as well as trying to wrest the game away from our opponents. We drew there last season so I don't have to explain too much to the players.
About Union Berlin's home field advantage
- Union Berlin's home field advantage is very obvious. They are a compact team. Each player is good at confrontation and running. They are experienced and can defend the wings well and apply pressure immediately when the opponent has the ball. The style is similar to Cologne - they show similar strengths in the collective, being very brave and compact.
In addition, they have many forwards who can score goals. The whole team is full of confidence and that also comes from the draw with us last year. Therefore, they will approach this game with great motivation. It will be an exciting challenge - just like against PSG. We must be mentally prepared.
Regarding the cup game against Union Berlin in early December
- I don't think it has much of an impact, except that the teams will know each other better when we play each other in the cup. But last year we won 4-0 against Mainz in the cup and then lost to them in the league. So every game has its own story. Union Berlin are a very tough opponent and we won't underestimate them. We need to be at our best during these 90 minutes - and that's also true in cup matches, otherwise it's not enough. I have a lot of respect for games against Union Berlin or Mainz.
Let’s talk about the size of the team’s lineup
-Due to the significant improvement of Lennart Carr, the team’s lineup feels stronger than before, and he has proven that he can make a difference. We also had Luis Dias, who adapted quickly. Kane and Olise have also been maintaining good competitive form.
This eliminates the need for us to expand the lineup. What is important is that the players stay healthy. In addition, Musiala, Alphonso Davies and Hiroyuki Ito will also return. I believe these players will play a big role this season. That complete trust that everyone on the team can play and contribute is crucial.
About the mental state during the winning streak
- After each game, we must immediately adjust our mentality and start over. I say this because I’ve learned something throughout my career as both a player and a coach: always look to the next game. Also, in the finals, you have to be extra focused. But now the game against PSG is over - I don't have that sense of achievement of winning 16 games in a row.
We have to learn from every game, and that process never ends - win or lose, I hope we stay consistent. We beat PSG and now we go away to Union Berlin and we will try to win there.
