Kompany Points to Injuries as Bayern Munich Bow Out of Champions League
Vincent Kompany has cited a devastating injury crisis as the key reason Bayern Munich failed to reach the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, following their 4-3 aggregate loss to Inter Milan.
Bayern earned a hard-fought 2-2 draw at the San Siro on Wednesday night but were ultimately undone by a 2-1 defeat in the first leg in Munich. The result means Kompany’s side will miss out on the chance to contest the Champions League final on home soil at the Allianz Arena.
Kompany: “The Big Issue Was Injuries”
Speaking after the match, Kompany lamented the absence of several first-team players, naming key losses that severely impacted their preparation and strategy across both legs.
“I think the big issue, before Inter, was injuries,” Kompany told reporters. “We had to understand what we could do without (Hiroki) Ito, (Dayot) Upamecano, (Jamal) Musiala, (Manuel) Neuer, (Alphonso) Davies, (Kingsley) Coman, (Aleksandar) Pavlovic.”
The Bayern boss expressed disappointment, noting that despite the injury concerns, his squad delivered competitive performances against a formidable Inter Milan side.
Bayern Created More Chances, But Exit Feels Harsh
Kompany Points to Injuries as Bayern Munich Bow Out of Champions League
Reflecting on the match, Kompany praised his team’s attitude and insisted they had created more goal-scoring opportunities than Inter over the two legs.
“In the first game we showed a good Bayern Munich, not necessarily in terms of the result. In the second game, we showed a positive attitude in Milan.” “We had many scoring chances, more than Inter. I have mixed feelings. The harsh reality is that we will not play the Champions League final at home,” he added.
The Belgian manager, now in his first major Champions League campaign with Bayern, expressed both regret and pride in the team’s resilience under trying circumstances.
Schedule, Pressure and Travel All Took Their Toll
Kompany also raised concerns over the congested football calendar and its toll on players. While stopping short of blaming the schedule entirely, he suggested the burden of constant games and long trips contributed to the squad’s mounting injuries.
“Unfortunately, I don’t decide. In addition to the many games, there are long journeys, and the pressure increases when we have absences,” Kompany noted.
No Final at Allianz, But Kompany Sees Growth
The 2025 UEFA Champions League final will still be held at Bayern’s Allianz Arena, but the hosts will now watch from the sidelines, a harsh blow for fans hoping to see their side on the biggest stage in European club football.
Despite the setback, Kompany believes Bayern Munich are building something solid under his leadership and that the experience from this year’s campaign will shape the club’s continental ambitions going forward.
“We can’t change that. The other aspect is the performance—we know we have done enough to win these games,” he concluded.
