Bayern Munich's head coach, Vincent Kompany, acknowledged that the team is feeling the "drama" of their challenging start to the Champions League after consecutive defeats. Bayern, despite opening their European campaign in spectacular fashion with a 9-2 win over Dinamo Zagreb, stumbled in subsequent games, losing to both Aston Villa and Barcelona. As a result, the six-time European champions find themselves in an unusual position, ranked 23rd in the new format, and trailing four points behind the top eight, who are guaranteed spots in the last 16.
Under the revamped tournament structure, only the top eight teams progress directly to the knockout stage, while the next 16 face a two-legged playoff to advance. The bottom 12 clubs, meanwhile, are eliminated outright. Kompany, who joined Bayern from Burnley this season, stated that while he remains "confident" in his squad’s ability, there is a clear sense of urgency and "a little bit of drama" surrounding their current position. He acknowledged the high stakes of each remaining group game, emphasizing that they likely need to win at least six games in total to secure a spot in the top eight. Kompany underscored his ambition to avoid the playoff route and secure a direct path to the round of 16.
Adding to the sense of importance, Bayern's midfielder Joao Palhinha, who hails from Lisbon and previously played for Benfica's rivals Sporting, emphasized that the team will treat their upcoming game against Benfica "as a final." Palhinha noted that playing for Bayern naturally brings pressure but stressed that the players are prepared to meet it head-on. The Portuguese midfielder also took a moment to wish his former Sporting coach, Ruben Amorim, well in his upcoming move to Manchester United, commending Amorim's abilities and the impact he had on his career.
As Bayern prepares to face Benfica, Kompany and his players are keenly aware of the need for a strong response. Bayern fans and club officials alike will be looking for a rebound performance to regain control in the Champions League and stay on course for the latter stages of the competition.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0