Vincent Kompany reflects on Barcelona's thrashing of Bayern Munich

By SABC Sport
24th October 2024

After a humbling 4-1 defeat in the Champions League at the hands of Barcelona, Bayern Munich's manager Vincent Kompany acknowledged the need to carefully analyse the match at the Estadi Olimpic de Montjuic to learn from their mistakes.

Despite his side's efforts, Kompany admitted that Barcelona's clinical finishing was the difference on Wednesday night, as a stunning hat-trick from Raphinha sealed a dominant victory for the Spanish giants.

"There were many moments in the game that didn't go our way. Conceding an early goal certainly didn't help us," said Kompany. "We had opportunities in the first half to turn things around, but Barcelona were incredibly efficient in front of goal. We need to take lessons from this match to improve going forward.

"The team worked hard, but it just wasn't enough. When you have control and possession, you must make it count."

Reflecting on Bayern's defensive record, Kompany pointed out that they had been one of the tightest teams in Europe. However, he admitted there was much to learn from the defeat: "We've been strong defensively all season, but we have to review this game and see where things went wrong.

"It's clear that we didn't do everything right; otherwise, we wouldn't have lost. Improvement is essential."

The result was a stark reminder of Barcelona's enduring quality, even without their iconic former captain Lionel Messi.

Kompany refrained from comparing the current Barcelona side to Messi's era, but he was clear in his respect for their legacy: "Barcelona are one of Europe's great clubs. Different times, different players, but they remain a powerhouse."

Kompany remained optimistic, despite the heavy defeat, focusing on the positives from the first half. "We felt in control during parts of the first half and believed we could win.

"Unfortunately, we didn't capitalise on key moments. We must learn from this match so that we can come back stronger in the Bundesliga and the Champions League."

Bayern Munich will now regroup, aiming to bounce back in their domestic and European campaigns, with Kompany's message of reflection and improvement clear to his squad.