Bruised Bayern Munich ‘already motivated’ for the next Champions League opportunity

Coach Vincent Kompany said he was “already motivated” for a move to next season’s Champions League as he digested Bayern Munich’s narrow semi-final elimination by Paris Saint-Germain.

Wednesday’s 1-1 draw in Munich meant PSG qualified 6-5 on aggregate, maintaining their one-goal lead from the wild first leg in Paris and setting up a showdown with Arsenal in Budapest.

Kompany said after the match that his disappointment would not last long and that he had plans for another crack at the tournament.

«I am already motivated for next season. I know how difficult it is to win this prize and I know how much depends on the details,» said the 40-year-old.

“I am convinced that we will go one step further next season.”

And the relative novice coach – who is in only his second season with the German giants – vowed to stick to his principles and «attack again» in the league next season.

Kompany has overcome setbacks before.

Two years ago he was relegated from the Premier League with Burnley, but immediately moved on to Munich.

Since then, the former Manchester City captain has built a brilliant team while managing to navigate the club’s tumultuous politics – a feat that eluded both Thomas Tuchel and Julian Nagelsmann during their time at Saebener Strasse.

– ‘The right path’ –

In Munich on Wednesday, Ousmane Dembele scored 140 seconds after kick-off and PSG dug deep, showing defensive prowess to match his celebrated attacking flair.

Harry Kane leveled matters well into stoppage time, but Bayern were too late with their comeback.

That goal meant Bayern have lost just three of 52 games this season. Two of those have come away from home against each of the Champions League finalists.

And although they did not reach the final this time, Joshua Kimmich, who was part of Bayern’s treble in 2020 and is one of six squad members to have won the Champions League, told reporters this was the best version of Bayern he had seen.

“When I sit there in the dressing room, I have the feeling that it is still possible to win the Champions League with this team, just not this season,” he said.

“This is the strongest season we have played so far, stronger than previous seasons, even better than the treble season,” he added.

“We are on the right track.”

– Win now –

The summer signing of winger Luis Diaz, then 28 years old, for a reported 70 million euros ($82 million) was a clear sign that Bayern are in ‘win now’ mode.

With striker Harry Kane, who arrived at the age of 30 for a club record €100 million and turned 33 in July, and veteran captain Manuel Neuer already 40, there is a sense that the clock is ticking for Bayern.

But Kimmich, 31, was the only other starter from Wednesday’s game on the wrong side of 30.

Bayern remains ready to compete on the European stage again next season.

The Bavarian giants have already won back-to-back Bundesliga titles and are in with a chance of their first German Cup win in six years.

But like PSG, they are really judged by Champions League wins.

Kane also knows that success in the Champions League is the key to becoming one of the modern playing elite.

In his three years at Bayern, he reached the semi-finals twice and the quarter-finals the other time.

The England captain’s only final appearance in the Champions League came in 2019 with Tottenham, in a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.

After the match he said that Bayern should not be judged on one result.

«It has been a very strong season. In the Champions League it can come down to small margins,» he said.

«We had the dream to win all the trophies. We are good enough to do that. That’s why it hurts at the moment.»

«But we cannot be judged on one match. We have had a fantastic season so far. We can be proud of what we have achieved so far.»

Published on May 7, 2026