Bayern Munich have to switch gears for the Champions League knockout stages, coach Vincent Kompany has stated.
The Bavarians are set to face either Manchester City or Celtic in the playoff for a Round of 16 spot after missing out on automatic qualification.
Despite a 3-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava in their final group-stage match, Bayern finished 12th in the league phase, necessitating the playoff. “Now we have to restore this energy to be hot for those games,” Kompany said.
He emphasized the need for a mentality shift, acknowledging that both potential opponents enter the playoff with momentum.
“We have to build our energy. We have to switch to the mentality of looking forward to these big games. You get to the stage of a competition where you expect big games,” Kompany added.
In their match against Slovan, Bayern were on the front foot early. Thomas Muller, returning to the starting lineup, scored within eight minutes from a Joshua Kimmich assist.
Despite numerous chances, Bayern only managed to extend their lead late in the game with goals from Harry Kane and Kingsley Coman.
Slovan scored a late consolation through Marko Tolic.
The win, while extending Bayern’s unbeaten home run in the Champions League to 34 matches, did not alleviate the disappointment of not qualifying directly for the next round.
“Despite the win today, the joy is not the same. Today we did not have a lot of things in our control regarding the situation but from tomorrow we will have again,” Kompany reflected.
This playoff match represents a critical juncture for Bayern, who are keen to rekindle their European ambitions. The draw for their playoff opponent will be held on Friday, setting the stage for a dramatic encounter in the quest for a spot in the Champions League’s Round of 16.
