Vincent Kompany is doing a phenomenal job at Bayern Munich — and it is not only capturing attention around the league, but gratitude. After two famous wins over Real Madrid to reach the Champions League semifinals, the German record champions are carrying the Bundesliga banner in Europe…and they aren’t alone.

SC Freiburg secured a 6-1 aggregate victory over Celta Vigo to reach the Europa League semis last Friday, and Freiburg coach Julian Schuster gave a nod of appreciation to his UCL counterpart.

“Bayern are a big inspiration for all of us in the Bundesliga. The way they managed [to reach the UCL semifinals] was impressive,” Schuster said in comments captured by @iMiaSanMia. “We have a figurehead in Europe with FC Bayern and especially with Vincent Kompany. It’s impressive how you can be so successful and still keep this human side. We can look up to him and learn a lot. It helps us as Bundesliga to have such a great role model.”

Interestingly, the UEL is not the only prize left in contention for Freiburg this season. Schuster also has a chance to face Bayern in the DFB-Pokal final, if he and his side can get past VfB Stuttgart and Bayern dispatches Bayer Leverkusen.

If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…