Kompany expects thrilling clash as Bayern prepare to face PSG in Club World Cup

Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany has said that Saturday's Club World Cup quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain will be a captivating contest, with both sides sharing similarly "extreme" styles of play.

PSG, under Luis Enrique, and Kompany's Bayern — champions of France and Germany respectively — are known for their high pressing, possession-based football and attacking intent.

"You have teams that are able to use the ball well in almost every scenario — whether facing deep blocks or high presses," Kompany told reporters at a press conference on Friday.

"That creates a kind of, what we often see here, a thunderstorm, right? A perfect storm. These matches are always fascinating… I'd pay to watch it."

The roof at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium means neither team will need to worry about an actual storm, but Kompany insists the football on show will be one to savour.

"If I were a neutral, I'd definitely come to watch this match," he said. "Both teams follow quite 'extreme' tactical principles, which is why it tends to be such an exciting fixture."

Despite acknowledging the strength of the reigning Champions League winners, Kompany welcomed the challenge.

"There's no reason to believe they won't be at their absolute best tomorrow — but that's the kind of test you relish," he said. "If I could choose one team to face, as a professional, as a competitor, it would always be the winners. And they are the winners, so we have the opportunity to go up against them.

"It's tough, perhaps the toughest match, but that's exactly why we're here. I wouldn't want it any other way."

The Belgian also praised his PSG counterpart, Luis Enrique, who previously guided the French giants to a treble.

Reflecting on their previous encounter in November — a 1-0 win for Bayern — Kompany suggested criticism of the Spanish coach at the time was exaggerated.

"I remember watching his press conference on one of the big screens, and the questions being thrown at him were completely over the top," Kompany said. "Really harsh questions, sweeping claims — 'everything's over', 'you've failed', 'you're not capable' — that sort of thing.

"But when I analysed his team before we faced them, I saw they should've been winning matches 5-0. Instead, the results were often 1-1 or even losses — which didn't reflect the dominance or the spirit within the team."

Kompany said he was pleased to see Enrique's persistence paying off.

"It's good to see that his consistency was rewarded," he said. "But more importantly, that he had the strength to keep going.

"It's not a compliment — it's simply a fact. And it's interesting to revisit this fixture six months later and see how much can change in that time."