Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany has offered a measured response to Mikel Arteta's recent comments about fixture congestion, subtly suggesting that Premier League clubs may simply be playing too many games.

The back-and-forth began after last week's electrifying Champions League clash between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, which ended in a nine-goal thriller. In the aftermath, Arsenal boss Arteta pointed to the grueling English domestic schedule as a reason why his side couldn't replicate such high-octane performances on a weekly basis.

Speaking ahead of the Champions League semi-final second leg, Kompany was diplomatic but clear. "I don't want to comment much on that," the Belgian said. "I played in the Premier League for many years. I don't think it was meant as a criticism of Bayern or PSG, but rather a discussion."

Drawing from his own experience as a former Premier League star, Kompany highlighted the unique demands of English football. "In England, you have 38 league games, the league cup, FA Cup, no winter break," he noted. "It's not for me to discuss that, but it's legitimate. Jürgen Klopp spoke about that many times too."

While Kompany's response didn't challenge Arteta's core argument, it reframed the conversation. The Arsenal manager had focused on the lower minute totals for Bayern and PSG players, but failed to address why that was the case. Critics point out that Arsenal has spent hundreds of millions building a squad deep enough to compete on multiple fronts—leaving little room for complaints about unfairness.

As the Champions League drama unfolds, both Kompany and PSG boss Luis Enrique seem unfazed by the narrative surrounding the fixture. For now, the message is clear: football is decided on the pitch, not in the press room. And Kompany is content to let the ball do the talking.