Vincent Kompany: "This is football if you do not use your opportunities" | OneFootball

Vincent Kompany spoke to the media after FC Bayern München lost 0-1 to SL Benfica, in their final group match at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina. The defeat meant that Bayern, who already qualified for the knockout stage on Friday evening, will not win the group but finish second instead.

Kompany summarised the match by saying: “Our first half was not very good, but I remained confident for the second half”. He added that the weather conditions were a major factor in the defeat, saying to Kicker that “We had problems with the heat; our gameplay did not run as good as it usually does. If there is anything positive about the result, it is that we will not have to play in Charlotte anymore”.

Regarding the three changes made at halftime, these being to bring on Joshua Kimmich, Harry Kane, and Michael Olise in place of João Palhinha, Tom Bischof, and Serge Gnabry, Kompany stated that this move was one of Bayern's pre-determined plans, to bring more attacking support in a match where they had already qualified.

He said to the German media regarding this decision: “We wanted a strong finish, and we got that. We cannot take even more from the second 45 minutes, since in the end, the result was not there. This is football if you do not use your opportunities and if the goalkeeper is excellent”.

The final result means that FC Bayern will be facing Brazilian side CR Flamengo in the round of sixteen; Flamengo defeated Chelsea FC by three goals to one back on Friday to confirm a first-place finish in Group D. Kompany briefly talked about his opposition, saying, “It was quite clear that it would be Flamengo or Chelsea, so we knew that it would be a difficult match. What we can take into that match is creativity - we know that we can create”.

The knockout match between Bayern and Flamengo starts at 16.20 (EDT) / 22.20 (CET) at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.