Vincent Kompany: 'We controlled the emotions in the game' | OneFootball

Second game, second win, last-16 spot secured! FC Bayern deservedly came out on top 2-1 in an intense contest against Boca Juniors at the Club World Cup to book their place in the round of 16 with a match to spare. “We’re happy to have started the tournament with two wins,” stated head coach Vincent Kompany. Harry Kane, who was named Player of the Match, could only echo those sentiments: “It was a big performance from the guys, we knew it wasn’t going to be easy.” Having qualified for the knockout stages, the Munich men are aiming to clinch top spot in the group in the final group match against Benfica this Tuesday. fcbayern.com rounds up the reaction from Miami.

Reaction to match against Boca Juniors

Vincent Kompany: “We had to work a lot today but we got the job done – we’re in the last 16 and I’m really pleased about that. You saw how tough it is for European teams to play against South American sides. I think we did it really well. We controlled the emotions in the game. Yes, we conceded a goal but we stayed calm. And the way we saw the game out was very mature. Overall it was a solid performance. The atmosphere was just unbelievable. If you’re not here, you can’t comprehend it but when you’re in the middle of it, it’s an experience, a privilege. We’re happy to have started the tournament with two wins.”

Manuel Neuer: “The result is the most important thing. We were the better team and didn’t give much away. You’ve already seen in the tournament that it’s not easy against South American teams. We’re glad to have started the tournament with six points. We took the wind out of their sails a bit in the first half. Their goal then gave the crowd a lift and it got really loud, but we held our nerve and didn’t let ourselves get fazed. We go into the match against Benfica with a good feeling. We want to put in another good performance there and get the three points.”

Harry Kane: “It was a big performance from the guys. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy with the hot weather. The first half was really good, we should have been two or three up. It was tougher in the second, they put us under a bit of pressure and got the momentum, but once they scored we shifted it back in our direction. It was great to score the goal and seal qualification. It's a massive tournament, we’re playing against the best teams in the world. Our attitude is always that we need to produce our highest level. So far it’s going well in this competition.”

Jonathan Tah: “It was the match we expected. We implemented our game plan well, didn't get too involved and didn't let the game get out of hand. We focused on playing our game. The atmosphere was very good, it was fun. Personally it spurs me on when the opposition fans are loud. We’ve done well in the first two matches. It’s going to be another different kind of test against Benfica, but there too we want to produce a good performance and do our thing.”

Konrad Laimer: “It was just a fun game today. That’s exactly what the Club World Cup is for: to play against clubs like this, it’s just something different. There’s a bit more fire in it sometimes, also a bit more provocation from one or two, but on the whole it was a very decent performance from us. In my opinion, we should’ve scored more goals in the first half, then it might have been a bit more comfortable. Having said that, it's also very positive that we stayed calm at 1-1, kept playing our game, scored the important goal to make it 2-1 and then managed the game well. Overall it was a strong second game from us, with important points. There’s not much time to recover now, we go again on Tuesday.”

Reaction from Boca Juniors

Miguel Ángel Russo (coach): “We did some things well but there are other things we need to work on. We didn’t really get into the game in the first half – after the break it was a different story. We want to keep competing against the best and we’ll see whether we can do enough to get through.”

All FIFA Club World Cup matches are being broadcast live and for free by streaming service DAZN, although broadcasters will differ in some countries.

The match report:

Bayern beat Boca to progress to knockouts