Kompany urges Bayern to bounce back at Freiburg
Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany has urged his players to deliver a winning performance when the Bundesliga leader faces Freiburg this weekend.
Kompany's side fell to a 3-0 defeat to Feyenoord in the UEFA Champions League in midweek, a result that dented its chances of a top eight finish in the league phase and securing an automatic spot in the Round of 16.
But the Bavarian side has been in excellent form domestically and is four points clear at the top of the German top flight, with defending champion Bayer Leverkusen in second place.
Kompany is hopeful his side can build on that momentum.
"It is good that we play so soon again," Kompany said.
"It is something we hoped for. We lost that game, that is a fact. I think it is important if you want to be at the very top to put in the work. Hopefully, the answer will come on the pitch and that is the most important thing."
Bayern's 45-point haul is its best in the league in eight years at this point of a season and its 56 goals in 18 matches has only been bettered by one side in Bundesliga history – Bayern's 2021-2022 squad, when it scored a goal more.
Furthermore, it has also not lost any of its past 17 Bundesliga games against Freiburg, winning 12 and drawing four matches during that period.
However, Bayern will be without suspended Konrad Laimer for the game while fellow defender Alphonso Davies is set for a prolonged time out with a muscle injury.
Full-back Davies has appeared in 16 of 18 league games for Bayern this season and has a goal and two assists in his bag.
The defeat to Dutch side Feyenoord left Bayern in 15th place with only 12 points from seven matches in the UEFA Champions League.
The 16 teams below the top eight in the UEFA Champions League will go into a play-off in order to qualify for the Round of 16.
Kompany added that, despite the midweek loss, his players were committed to the season's goal of winning titles.
"If you want to win titles you have to be there every moment. But it is unusual in a season when you go after titles not to see things [like the Feyenoord defeat] happen," he said.
"It is in the decisive moments that you have to be there, and these moments will come.
"We lost, that's correct. But the lads showed full commitment until now. We want to keep seeing that," he said.
While Bayer makes the trip to Freiburg, its closest rival Leverkusen will be at RB Leipzig on the same day as it looks to cut the gap to the leader.
