SOCCER: Kompany won't allow Bayern to dwell on Champions League exit

MUNICH, Germany – Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany has urged his players to move on quickly from their Champions League semifinal exit to Paris Saint-Germain and finish the season strongly, with the German Cup still within reach.

Bayern were eliminated from Europe’s premier club competition after a 1-1 draw with PSG in Munich, which sealed a 6-5 aggregate defeat. Despite the disappointment, Kompany emphasized that the focus must immediately shift to the remainder of the campaign.

“It is normal to be disappointed. It was such a big goal and it cost a lot of energy,” Kompany said during a press conference on Friday. “But from the next day, it is only about the future. My role is to project that and how we must react.”

Bayern have already secured the Bundesliga title and reached the German Cup final, but their recent defensive struggles have drawn criticism. Kompany faced scrutiny for deploying a high defensive line that left space at the back in both matches against PSG.

The Bavarians have conceded 12 goals in their last four matches across all competitions. However, Kompany defended his tactical approach, stating he would not change the team’s style as long as they continue to outscore opponents.

Bayern have also set a new Bundesliga record for goals scored in a single season, with 116 and two matches still remaining. The previous record of 101 goals was set during the 1971–72 season.

“We are very pragmatic people in Belgium. If the goal difference in the Bundesliga is an all-time record of 81, then you have done quite a lot not to lose matches,” Kompany said. “We win games, and the goal difference shows that we do it with a great margin against our opponents.”

Bayern travel to struggling VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday in their penultimate Bundesliga fixture before closing out their league campaign against Cologne a week later.

They will then head to Berlin for the German Cup final against VfB Stuttgart on May 23.

Kompany stressed the importance of showing resilience after their European exit.

“We want to show that this is already in the past and it is about what we can still achieve, not only in the next weeks but beyond,” he added. -Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters