Vincent Kompany reckons his nightmare first-ever Champions League away day at Celtic kept him away from Sir Alex Ferguson and made him a Manchester City hero.
But the Bayern Munich boss feels it’s the perfect place for countryman Arne Engels to take the next big steps. And Kompany also had a word about his fond City farewell involving Brendan Rodgers. The Belgian boss had a raft of anecdotes at the place where it all started for him. Kompany was just 17 when he played for Anderlecht against Martin O’Neill’s Celtic side and was hammered 3-1 on a night when he was watched by Fergie.
He said: “I remember it being a special night. I don’t want to drag too much nostalgia into it, but I think I was fortunate to play poorly, because I remember that Sir Alex Ferguson came to watch me. If I played good, maybe he might have come in with a bid for me, so I’m really happy that I ended up on the blue side of Manchester.
“As a 17-year-old, I came here. I thought, yes, we’re going to make it and then the reality was different. I think we could have lost 5-0. That was a first experience for me. I think later in your career, you look forward to these moments. If you can pick moments where you want to play and show your best football, it’s those moments.
“It’s obviously tough, that’s why the home record is strong from Celtic, but that makes the appetite bigger to be in those games.”
On Engels, Kompnay said: “I’m always happy to see Belgian players do well. If I remember well, I think I’ve seen him even play in the youth teams for Bruges, because when I was in Antwerp, I used to watch the youth team games a lot.
“I think he’s 21 now, so he’s in the right place, it’s the right level. You get a taste of Champions League football, you get a taste of, you know, must-win football in the league as well. I think for young players, sometimes as important as the talent is the pathway, and it doesn’t always need to start with the top clubs in the world.
“I think you start with top clubs in different leagues, that gives you that winning mentality, then you progress and many of the players from the Belgian generation that did well were actually at his age in similar places, so it’s a good starting point for him.”
Kompany is looking forward to facing Rodgers, who described his club as footballing royalty. He said: “Both clubs stand very high in the tradition of the Champions League. I can imagine that it would be the same for Brendan. We’re all here for the next piece of the history.
“For the people who are following our teams. I think historically anyone who has a deeper understanding of football would understand the home record of Celtic in this competition. It’s not just recent. Even in my time throughout my career, I can’t remember Celtic losing at home in Europe. So it is a fortress.
“As a coach, I’m appreciating to a different level what colleagues are doing. But my last ever game at the Etihad for Man City was when Brendan was a coach.
“I remember it was a must-win game for us [against Leicester] and we didn’t have it all our way. He always, within his squad design, plays in the front line with speed and one versus one ability. He had it at Leicester, at Liverpool and I’m seeing the same design here.
”But in the end, that’s me talking about a colleague. In reality, it’s the players who have got to do the job.”