From thumping Barcelona 8-2 to beating Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, the powerhouse of German football is one of the most illustrious clubs in the world. At the start of Vincent Kompany’s second season in charge, the German champions are flying, with eight straight wins and 30 goals to kick off the campaign.
As such, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more stark reflection of the sheer range of teams competing in this year’s competition than their match-up with Tuesday’s opponents Pafos.
One of four debutants this season, the Cypriot champions face an almighty task in stopping Kompany’s side, armed with the incandescent Harry Kane who has already netted 15 times this season.
As they gear up for this week’s clash, Bayern stars Jonathan Tah and Aleksandar Pavlović shed some light on life under Kompany, their football idols growing up, and how family has helped them to pursue their dreams.
Jonathan Tah: He works very meticulously and has great attention to detail, especially when it comes to defending. He’s able to teach me a lot, especially the little things.
It’s very intense, which I like, and you can tell that he believes in everything he is saying to us. He doesn’t have any doubts. We keep moving forward and if something goes wrong, we stick to the plan.
I like this mindset and I think it helps a team when you have the feeling that the person who is teaching you believes wholeheartedly in what he is teaching you, so we do what he tells us.
Aleksandar Pavlović: For us players, also for me personally, it is really helpful that he was a player as well. He knows how it is to be a player.
He provides us with tips and instructions on how we can improve and tells us what we are doing well at. That is very helpful. He’s an excellent coach.
He can also be tough when something isn’t right. I think he has a good mix. That makes it great.
Tah: He was also still quite young then. I can remember that he had the number 10, which is very funny as a centre-back. I think he was simply someone who grew more and more over his career. What inspires me, when I look at it now, is that he kept growing. He never had such stagnation, but instead became more and more this leader that he was in the end and as he was also perceived. He has now also finished his playing career and left City as a legendary leader with wonderful trophies that he was able to collect there. I think that is simply something from which you can take something with you. I would say exactly this leadership existence that he embodied in his career is what I also want to focus on the most.
From thumping Barcelona 8-2 to beating Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, the powerhouse of German football is one of the most illustrious clubs in the world. At the start of Vincent Kompany’s second season in charge, the German champions are flying, with eight straight wins and 30 goals to kick off the campaign.
As such, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more stark reflection of the sheer range of teams competing in this year’s competition than their match-up with Tuesday’s opponents Pafos.
One of four debutants this season, the Cypriot champions face an almighty task in stopping Kompany’s side, armed with the incandescent Harry Kane who has already netted 15 times this season.
As they gear up for this week’s clash, Bayern stars Jonathan Tah and Aleksandar Pavlović shed some light on life under Kompany, their football idols growing up, and how family has helped them to pursue their dreams.
Jonathan Tah: He works very meticulously and has great attention to detail, especially when it comes to defending. He’s able to teach me a lot, especially the little things.
It’s very intense, which I like, and you can tell that he believes in everything he is saying to us. He doesn’t have any doubts. We keep moving forward and if something goes wrong, we stick to the plan.
I like this mindset and I think it helps a team when you have the feeling that the person who is teaching you believes wholeheartedly in what he is teaching you, so we do what he tells us.
Aleksandar Pavlović: For us players, also for me personally, it is really helpful that he was a player as well. He knows how it is to be a player.
He provides us with tips and instructions on how we can improve and tells us what we are doing well at. That is very helpful. He’s an excellent coach.
He can also be tough when something isn’t right. I think he has a good mix. That makes it great.
Tah: He was also still quite young then. I can remember that he had the number 10, which is very funny as a centre-back. I think he was simply someone who grew more and more over his career. What inspires me, when I look at it now, is that he kept growing. He never had such stagnation, but instead became more and more this leader that he was in the end and as he was also perceived. He has now also finished his playing career and left City as a legendary leader with wonderful trophies that he was able to collect there. I think that is simply something from which you can take something with you. I would say exactly this leadership existence that he embodied in his career is what I also want to focus on the most.
Tah: What I said before about the manager. I always want to grow and improve, and I always look for an environment where I feel I can grow. Sometimes it’s not about the club, but on this occasion it was very much about the club.
I had been there for ten years and I felt that it was the right time to go and take the next step, and get out of my comfort zone again, and FC Bayern (Munich) convinced me with their approach, talks with Max Eberl, with the manager. They also gave me the feeling that I can take my next step here, I can get better here, I can grow and be successful. That was why I made the decision to come here.
Tah: Without my family none of this would have been possible, and by that I do not mean just supporting in terms of money, because we did not have much of that.
But I think of the effort they had to put in, that my mother after work - we did not have a car for a long time - had to travel by train to training to take me there, and at the same time had to look after my sister.
And my sister also often had to give up things, because so much time was taken up for me. And I think those are the sacrifices my entire family had to make, for which I am simply extremely grateful. And without them it just would not have been possible like that.
Pavlović: My family. My parents had the biggest influence on my career. Without them I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Because they always supported me, helped me, drove me to practice and I’m very grateful for that.
Tah: My biggest idol was actually Ronaldinho. He gave me the most joy to watch, because he embodied exactly that passion for me. And that was exactly the time when I was also able to start watching football on television and got to know about it.
And he was my favourite player. In my own position there were, of course, a few where I said, “Okay, I like how they play football”, for instance Jérôme Boateng. Of course, also our coach who played in Hamburg.
Of course, their background… Jérôme came from Berlin, his father’s African, his mother’s German. That, of course, also spoke to me somehow and I felt drawn to it. And I could somehow identify with it. And that is why those were the players I watched where I had the feeling, “Okay, I can learn something from them”.
Pavlović: My first football idol was Cristiano Ronaldo. Yes. His hard work and desire for more. I think everybody knows what kind of fantastic player he is.
From thumping Barcelona 8-2 to beating Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, the powerhouse of German football is one of the most illustrious clubs in the world. At the start of Vincent Kompany’s second season in charge, the German champions are flying, with eight straight wins and 30 goals to kick off the campaign.
As such, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more stark reflection of the sheer range of teams competing in this year’s competition than their match-up with Tuesday’s opponents Pafos.
One of four debutants this season, the Cypriot champions face an almighty task in stopping Kompany’s side, armed with the incandescent Harry Kane who has already netted 15 times this season.
As they gear up for this week’s clash, Bayern stars Jonathan Tah and Aleksandar Pavlović shed some light on life under Kompany, their football idols growing up, and how family has helped them to pursue their dreams.
Jonathan Tah: He works very meticulously and has great attention to detail, especially when it comes to defending. He’s able to teach me a lot, especially the little things.
It’s very intense, which I like, and you can tell that he believes in everything he is saying to us. He doesn’t have any doubts. We keep moving forward and if something goes wrong, we stick to the plan.
I like this mindset and I think it helps a team when you have the feeling that the person who is teaching you believes wholeheartedly in what he is teaching you, so we do what he tells us.
Aleksandar Pavlović: For us players, also for me personally, it is really helpful that he was a player as well. He knows how it is to be a player.
He provides us with tips and instructions on how we can improve and tells us what we are doing well at. That is very helpful. He’s an excellent coach.
He can also be tough when something isn’t right. I think he has a good mix. That makes it great.
Tah: He was also still quite young then. I can remember that he had the number 10, which is very funny as a centre-back. I think he was simply someone who grew more and more over his career. What inspires me, when I look at it now, is that he kept growing. He never had such stagnation, but instead became more and more this leader that he was in the end and as he was also perceived. He has now also finished his playing career and left City as a legendary leader with wonderful trophies that he was able to collect there. I think that is simply something from which you can take something with you. I would say exactly this leadership existence that he embodied in his career is what I also want to focus on the most.
From thumping Barcelona 8-2 to beating Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, the powerhouse of German football is one of the most illustrious clubs in the world. At the start of Vincent Kompany’s second season in charge, the German champions are flying, with eight straight wins and 30 goals to kick off the campaign.
As such, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more stark reflection of the sheer range of teams competing in this year’s competition than their match-up with Tuesday’s opponents Pafos.
One of four debutants this season, the Cypriot champions face an almighty task in stopping Kompany’s side, armed with the incandescent Harry Kane who has already netted 15 times this season.
As they gear up for this week’s clash, Bayern stars Jonathan Tah and Aleksandar Pavlović shed some light on life under Kompany, their football idols growing up, and how family has helped them to pursue their dreams.
Jonathan Tah: He works very meticulously and has great attention to detail, especially when it comes to defending. He’s able to teach me a lot, especially the little things.
It’s very intense, which I like, and you can tell that he believes in everything he is saying to us. He doesn’t have any doubts. We keep moving forward and if something goes wrong, we stick to the plan.
I like this mindset and I think it helps a team when you have the feeling that the person who is teaching you believes wholeheartedly in what he is teaching you, so we do what he tells us.
Aleksandar Pavlović: For us players, also for me personally, it is really helpful that he was a player as well. He knows how it is to be a player.
He provides us with tips and instructions on how we can improve and tells us what we are doing well at. That is very helpful. He’s an excellent coach.
He can also be tough when something isn’t right. I think he has a good mix. That makes it great.
Tah: He was also still quite young then. I can remember that he had the number 10, which is very funny as a centre-back. I think he was simply someone who grew more and more over his career. What inspires me, when I look at it now, is that he kept growing. He never had such stagnation, but instead became more and more this leader that he was in the end and as he was also perceived. He has now also finished his playing career and left City as a legendary leader with wonderful trophies that he was able to collect there. I think that is simply something from which you can take something with you. I would say exactly this leadership existence that he embodied in his career is what I also want to focus on the most.
From thumping Barcelona 8-2 to beating Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, the powerhouse of German football is one of the most illustrious clubs in the world. At the start of Vincent Kompany’s second season in charge, the German champions are flying, with eight straight wins and 30 goals to kick off the campaign.
As such, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more stark reflection of the sheer range of teams competing in this year’s competition than their match-up with Tuesday’s opponents Pafos.
One of four debutants this season, the Cypriot champions face an almighty task in stopping Kompany’s side, armed with the incandescent Harry Kane who has already netted 15 times this season.
As they gear up for this week’s clash, Bayern stars Jonathan Tah and Aleksandar Pavlović shed some light on life under Kompany, their football idols growing up, and how family has helped them to pursue their dreams.
Jonathan Tah: He works very meticulously and has great attention to detail, especially when it comes to defending. He’s able to teach me a lot, especially the little things.
It’s very intense, which I like, and you can tell that he believes in everything he is saying to us. He doesn’t have any doubts. We keep moving forward and if something goes wrong, we stick to the plan.
I like this mindset and I think it helps a team when you have the feeling that the person who is teaching you believes wholeheartedly in what he is teaching you, so we do what he tells us.
Aleksandar Pavlović: For us players, also for me personally, it is really helpful that he was a player as well. He knows how it is to be a player.
He provides us with tips and instructions on how we can improve and tells us what we are doing well at. That is very helpful. He’s an excellent coach.
He can also be tough when something isn’t right. I think he has a good mix. That makes it great.
Tah: He was also still quite young then. I can remember that he had the number 10, which is very funny as a centre-back. I think he was simply someone who grew more and more over his career. What inspires me, when I look at it now, is that he kept growing. He never had such stagnation, but instead became more and more this leader that he was in the end and as he was also perceived. He has now also finished his playing career and left City as a legendary leader with wonderful trophies that he was able to collect there. I think that is simply something from which you can take something with you. I would say exactly this leadership existence that he embodied in his career is what I also want to focus on the most.
Tah: What I said before about the manager. I always want to grow and improve, and I always look for an environment where I feel I can grow. Sometimes it’s not about the club, but on this occasion it was very much about the club.
I had been there for ten years and I felt that it was the right time to go and take the next step, and get out of my comfort zone again, and FC Bayern (Munich) convinced me with their approach, talks with Max Eberl, with the manager. They also gave me the feeling that I can take my next step here, I can get better here, I can grow and be successful. That was why I made the decision to come here.
Tah: Without my family none of this would have been possible, and by that I do not mean just supporting in terms of money, because we did not have much of that.
But I think of the effort they had to put in, that my mother after work - we did not have a car for a long time - had to travel by train to training to take me there, and at the same time had to look after my sister.
And my sister also often had to give up things, because so much time was taken up for me. And I think those are the sacrifices my entire family had to make, for which I am simply extremely grateful. And without them it just would not have been possible like that.
Pavlović: My family. My parents had the biggest influence on my career. Without them I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Because they always supported me, helped me, drove me to practice and I’m very grateful for that.
Tah: My biggest idol was actually Ronaldinho. He gave me the most joy to watch, because he embodied exactly that passion for me. And that was exactly the time when I was also able to start watching football on television and got to know about it.
And he was my favourite player. In my own position there were, of course, a few where I said, “Okay, I like how they play football”, for instance Jérôme Boateng. Of course, also our coach who played in Hamburg.
Of course, their background… Jérôme came from Berlin, his father’s African, his mother’s German. That, of course, also spoke to me somehow and I felt drawn to it. And I could somehow identify with it. And that is why those were the players I watched where I had the feeling, “Okay, I can learn something from them”.
Pavlović: My first football idol was Cristiano Ronaldo. Yes. His hard work and desire for more. I think everybody knows what kind of fantastic player he is.
From thumping Barcelona 8-2 to beating Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, the powerhouse of German football is one of the most illustrious clubs in the world. At the start of Vincent Kompany’s second season in charge, the German champions are flying, with eight straight wins and 30 goals to kick off the campaign.
As such, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more stark reflection of the sheer range of teams competing in this year’s competition than their match-up with Tuesday’s opponents Pafos.
One of four debutants this season, the Cypriot champions face an almighty task in stopping Kompany’s side, armed with the incandescent Harry Kane who has already netted 15 times this season.
As they gear up for this week’s clash, Bayern stars Jonathan Tah and Aleksandar Pavlović shed some light on life under Kompany, their football idols growing up, and how family has helped them to pursue their dreams.
Jonathan Tah: He works very meticulously and has great attention to detail, especially when it comes to defending. He’s able to teach me a lot, especially the little things.
It’s very intense, which I like, and you can tell that he believes in everything he is saying to us. He doesn’t have any doubts. We keep moving forward and if something goes wrong, we stick to the plan.
I like this mindset and I think it helps a team when you have the feeling that the person who is teaching you believes wholeheartedly in what he is teaching you, so we do what he tells us.
Aleksandar Pavlović: For us players, also for me personally, it is really helpful that he was a player as well. He knows how it is to be a player.
He provides us with tips and instructions on how we can improve and tells us what we are doing well at. That is very helpful. He’s an excellent coach.
He can also be tough when something isn’t right. I think he has a good mix. That makes it great.
Tah: He was also still quite young then. I can remember that he had the number 10, which is very funny as a centre-back. I think he was simply someone who grew more and more over his career. What inspires me, when I look at it now, is that he kept growing. He never had such stagnation, but instead became more and more this leader that he was in the end and as he was also perceived. He has now also finished his playing career and left City as a legendary leader with wonderful trophies that he was able to collect there. I think that is simply something from which you can take something with you. I would say exactly this leadership existence that he embodied in his career is what I also want to focus on the most.
