Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany has admitted he has spoken to Nicolas Jackson about parent club Chelsea as the two teams prepare to face off in the Champions League. The striker swapped the Blues for the German giants on loan and now he could be particularly helpful for the Bundesliga outfit. Incidentally, Kompany has highlighted a "hidden strength" Enzo Maresca's team possess.
Kompany seeks Jackson's advice on Chelsea
The 24-year-old is on loan at Bayern from Chelsea this season and now he could face the west London outfit in the Champions League on Wednesday. Ahead of that contest, Kompany spoke to the Senegal international to get some inside knowledge on their next opponents.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWhat Kompany said on Chelsea loanee Jackson
"Of course you have the conversation," Kompany replied when asked if he had spoken to the striker on the Premier League side. "I already probably watched 40 games of Chelsea last season combined, because we were in the Club World Cup together and we faced a lot of the opponents that they faced. Then last season, I think Chelsea was also just an interesting team to observe. So I don’t have the feeling that it’s a team that will deliver a lot of mysteries. I happen to know the coach (Maresca) as well. But after a few moments, you realise that you’ve done your homework well or not. I have an idea of what Enzo might be telling his players. We have our ideas, we have our tactics, we have everything. But in the end, it’s the players. The players have to show their personality in these games to make a difference."
Kompany on Chelsea's 'hidden strength'
The former Manchester City star praised the work Maresca has done so far at Stamford Bridge after winning the Conference League and Club World Cup in 2025. He also said their "hidden strength" is that they are a young team on the up.
"I think Enzo’s done a terrific job," Kompany told . "You always have to look back at what a team was like when the manager started and the question marks around the squad and the playing group. Of course, you invest because you expect results but at the end, it is what it is, it’s a young team. It’s a lot of talented players that had to come together and for them to be able to do it, it’s been a remarkable job. When you look at Chelsea now, especially after the Club World Cup, I don’t think you make too much distinction between Chelsea and the absolute top teams in England, so they’re back there. The advantage you have with young players is that where they are today, tomorrow they’ll always be better. If they’ve got good habits, if they’ve got a good environment, that’s what happens with a top mindset. I think that’s the hidden strength of Chelsea, they’ve got a team that’s on a pathway that will keep going up. We’ve got the advantage, of course, of being at home and having a team with experience."
AFPWhat next for Bayern and Chelsea?
After Bayern host Chelsea on Wednesday, Maresca's team travel to Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, the German giants are away at Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga this weekend.
