Vincent Kompany has made it clear that Bayern Munich will not use Viking’s artificial pitch as an excuse ahead of their challenging Champions League trip to Norway.
The Bayern manager is taking extra precautions to prepare his squad for unfamiliar playing conditions, while insisting that the team’s mentality must remain unchanged regardless of the environment.
With the Norwegian side set to host Bayern in Stavanger, the German giants face a different challenge from their usual European away fixtures. Rather than completing their final preparations at the club’s training base before travelling, Kompany has reportedly arranged an earlier departure to allow his players to train on the match surface.
The move reflects the importance Bayern are placing on preparation, particularly when it comes to understanding the ball’s movement, adapting to the turf and choosing suitable footwear.
Artificial playing surfaces are not part of Bayern Munich’s usual matchday routine, making the trip a test of the squad’s ability to adapt.
Kompany admitted that he had never played on artificial turf during his 20-year playing career. With several members of his squad also lacking recent experience on such a surface, he believes an advance training session is the sensible approach.
“I have in 20 years career never played on artificial turf. If the players have to do that for the first time, then we can perhaps better train there once, so that we get the feeling, for example what kind of shoes you have to wear,” Kompany said, according to Bild.
The Belgian added that he did not want the team discovering the demands of the surface on matchday itself.
His approach is straightforward: give the players time to familiarise themselves with the conditions, gather useful information and reduce the number of surprises once the game begins.
For a team accustomed to playing on natural grass, even small differences in the pace of the ball and players’ footing could influence how they approach the contest.
Bayern’s previous experiences on artificial surfaces provide another reason to take the challenge seriously.
In 2006, the club drew 2-2 against Spartak Moscow on an artificial pitch, a result that reportedly prompted strong criticism from then-manager Felix Magath. He described the conditions as a “distortion of competition”.
Kompany, however, is determined to ensure that the playing surface does not become a distraction or an excuse for his current squad.
The Bayern boss wants his players to maintain their standards regardless of the weather, temperature or venue.
“Our attitude is important: whether wind, rain or sun, whether in America, in Carolina with 45 degrees or at Viking with minus 5 degrees on artificial turf, it’s all the same to me. I would like us to be Bayern everywhere, everywhere we fly to!” he said.
The message is clear: preparation matters, but Bayern’s identity and expectations must remain consistent away from home.
Joshua Kimmich has also addressed the unusual conditions, acknowledging that artificial turf has changed considerably since his earlier playing days.
The Bayern midfielder revealed that he had not played on such a surface for a long time. However, he believes advances in pitch technology could make the experience more comfortable than he remembers.
“I honestly haven’t played on artificial turf for a long time. It is different. I believe that artificial turf pitches have developed in recent years,” Kimmich said.
He recalled playing on short artificial surfaces during his youth, comparing them to hockey fields, but suggested that modern versions may offer a better playing experience.
“Therefore, I’ll let myself be surprised by what awaits us. But I assume that you can also play very good football on artificial turf,” he added.
Kimmich’s comments suggest that Bayern are approaching the challenge with a degree of caution without automatically assuming the surface will prevent them from playing their usual football.
His role in midfield could be particularly important as the team adjusts its passing, movement and ball control to the conditions.
Bayern’s preparations have reportedly faced another distraction away from the training ground.
According to Bild, fireworks were set off near the Radisson Blu Atlantic hotel where the team is staying, with the display reportedly lasting around two minutes in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Such incidents are sometimes used by home supporters in an attempt to disturb visiting teams before important matches. The report also referenced similar experiences involving Bayern during previous European trips.
However, the extent to which the incident affected the players’ sleep or preparation has not been established in the supplied report.
With an unfamiliar playing surface already presenting a challenge, Bayern will be keen to ensure that any off-field distractions have as little impact as possible on their performance.
Kompany’s approach combines practical preparation with a demand for mental resilience. The early training session is intended to help his players understand the pitch, while his public comments make clear that he expects them to compete without blaming external circumstances.
Kimmich’s optimism also suggests that Bayern are not approaching artificial turf as an automatic disadvantage. Instead, the focus is on learning the conditions quickly and adjusting where necessary.
The reported fireworks incident adds another talking point ahead of the contest, although Bayern’s response on the pitch will ultimately matter far more than the distractions surrounding the fixture.
For Kompany, the objective is simple: Bayern must remain Bayern, regardless of where they play.
If the German side can adapt quickly, maintain its discipline and execute its game plan, the unfamiliar surface need not define its Champions League performance.
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