Vincent Kompany admitted Bayern Munich’s 2-1 Champions League quarter-final first-leg victory over Real Madrid “was always on a knife-edge.”
Speaking after the match at the Santiago Bernabéu, the Bayern head coach said: “They were dangerous at times, but most importantly, we stayed really dangerous as well.” The result gives Bayern a narrow advantage ahead of the second leg in Munich.
Kompany, the former Manchester City captain now leading the German side, reported that his team never allowed Madrid to dominate. “I don’t think we let Real Madrid get away with it,” he said. “Any win at the Bernabéu is important. Now we play the next match at home and we have an advantage.” He added that Bayern “had more and better chances” across the tie’s opening 90 minutes.
The Belgian manager also made clear the tie remains open. “We respect Real Madrid’s quality because they are incredibly dangerous, but we have been too,” Kompany said. “Our team always has the right to dream of victories.
I know this tie is not over yet.” Bayern will seek to finish the job in Munich, with Kompany calling for a “mental reset” before the decisive second leg.