Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany commended his side’s unyielding attacking prowess, which was evident throughout their 4-2 victory against Flamengo in the Club World Cup on Sunday.
The German outfit established a 2-0 lead and again surged ahead 3-1, but the Brazilian team found pathways to remain competitive at both intervals.
While he appreciated his team’s tenacity, the former Manchester City captain was especially struck by their ability to stay engaged in the match.
“For me, the crucial aspect of the game, which is always a critical part, is that we remained a constant threat,” he explained to reporters.
“Whether we were defending or maintaining possession, we were always a danger. Even in defence, during counterattacks, we appeared ready to score at any moment,” he elaborated.
“I felt we maintained our composure and scored at key moments to alleviate the pressure. When you play against teams like these, their supporters play a massive role. The match against Boca was quite similar; they feel like away games for us. We have to adjust and find ways to win,” he stressed.
Kompany highlighted that regaining control of a match when an opponent is gaining momentum is a challenging aspect to instil in players.
‘Superior Players’
“It’s incredibly challenging to teach this aspect, genuinely. Having been a player myself, I’m aware that during such moments, individuals must take responsibility. Regardless of your coach’s capabilities, this is something you have to do.”
“The vital point is to maintain composure. The players managed to do that, drawing on their experience, and it’s also a topic we consistently discuss.
“We cannot afford to lose a game in five minutes due to a poor spell or what may seem like a frivolous penalty.”
Flamengo’s coach, Filipe Luis, concurred that Bayern provided no leeway for his team.
“The pressure they exert is overwhelming. They come at you with eight or ten players. They rightfully earned the victory,” he remarked.
“Our strategy did work, allowing us to put pressure on and create goal-scoring chances, but they were superior. We’re up against the pinnacle of football,” he acknowledged.
When asked again about the disparity in quality between South American clubs and leading European teams, Luis pointed out that financial realities in player transfers play a major role.
“If Vinicius Jr hadn’t joined Real Madrid, we would have the best player in the world. South American players aspire to be in the elite, and that’s where they currently find themselves. Even if we had won today and the tournament, it wouldn’t alter the reality—these are exceptionally high-quality teams,” he noted.
“Many of our teams feature Brazilian players, but the European sides possess the very best. They have superior players, and that’s an undeniable fact.”
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Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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