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ADDS Alonso quotes

Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany laughed off suggestions on Friday. Saturday’s match against Bayer Leverkusen was a personal confrontation with visiting opponent Xabi Alonso.

Ahead of Saturday’s top match, Kompany said that facing Alonso – who Bayern tried to hire before settling for the Belgian – did not motivate him “at all”.

“My motivation is that Leverkusen became champions last season and is now coming to the Allianz Arena,” said Kompany.

“It’s completely normal in this industry to have different candidates for the job. It may seem like we have big egos, but I don’t care at all.”

Alonso, who guided Leverkusen to a league and cup double in his first full season as coach at the top level, opted to stay with the champions despite interest from Bayern.

Kompany eventually took over at Bayern after several other candidates, including Julian Nagelsmann, Ralf Rangnick and Oliver Glasner, reportedly rejected their advances.

Despite Leverkusen storming to the league title last season without losing a game, something Bayern have never achieved in their history, the 38-year-old Kompany said Alonso’s side were still the underdogs.

“Bayern is always the favourite. We are looking forward to playing against the champions and we want to win,” said Kompany.

Leverkusen heads to Munich in second place, three points behind Bayern, who have won all four games so far.

Alonso also told reporters on Friday: “Going to the Allianz is perhaps the most difficult task in the Bundesliga.

“To get anything from the Allianz we need an almost perfect performance and we are working on that.”

Alonso praised his counterpart, saying: “Kompany has done very well so far,” adding: “Bayern are playing with enormous energy and quality.”

The competition is held during the annual Oktoberfest folk festival in Munich.

As Bayern’s players made their traditional visit, Alonso rejected the idea of ​​celebrating at the festival if Leverkusen won in Munich.

“There’s no time for that. On Tuesday we play AC Milan (in the Champions League),” the 42-year-old Spaniard said.

“Of course it is not in our minds: we will train in Leverkusen on Sunday morning, ahead of a very important week.”

Bayern could be without captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who missed Saturday’s 5-0 win over Werder Bremen with a thigh injury.

“Manu is training at the moment, but tomorrow we will make a final decision. Hopefully everyone will be there and we can choose the best team for the match.”

Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund dismissed speculation about Neuer’s possible return to the German national team after Marc-Andre Ter Stegen suffered a long-term injury last weekend.

The 2014 World Cup winner retired from international duty in the summer and Freund said any return to Germany was Neuer’s ‘personal decision’.

“He is very happy, in good form and hopefully now fit again.”