Kompany: Bayern’s DFB-Pokal Clash with Mainz “As Big as a Final” Amid Recent Cup Struggles

Vincent Kompany, the current Bayern Munich manager, emphasized the significance of their upcoming DFB-Pokal match against Mainz, equating it to the importance of a final. He is determined to enhance the club's performance in the cup competition, as Bayern has had a history of early exits, losing in the second round to Holstein Kiel, Borussia Monchengladbach, and Saarbrucken in three of the past four tournaments.

Kompany highlighted the importance of the DFB-Pokal second round match against Mainz, stating it holds the same weight as a final in his eyes, as Bayern seeks to improve their recent cup history. Despite being a 20-time winner of the competition, Bayern's recent performances have been less than stellar, with early exits in the second round in three of the last four seasons. The team's best performance in recent years was reaching the quarter-finals against Freiburg in the 2022-23 season, their most successful run since their title win against Bayer Leverkusen in 2020. Kompany is aware of the challenge posed by Mainz and is not taking them lightly, stating that Bayern's focus is solely on delivering a strong performance in the upcoming match. "We cannot alter what has happened in the past," Kompany stated during a press conference. "Our attention is now on what we can achieve in the upcoming game. I have great confidence in our team." "In my view, there is no hierarchy of competitions," Kompany continued. "The focus is always on the next match. For us, this game is as crucial as a final because it is the next match, and we are eager to win it, doing everything in our power to succeed." Kompany acknowledged Mainz's strengths, particularly in one-on-one situations and their ability to exert pressure with a compact game style. "It's a cup match, and it's not going to be easy," Kompany warned. "It's crucial that we maintain our efforts." Kompany led Bayern back to victory in the Bundesliga, securing a 5-0 win over Bochum following a loss to Barcelona in the Champions League. Barcelona's 4-1 victory ended a streak of six games without a win against Bayern, leaving Kompany's team with three points from their opening three games in the competition. The win over Bochum ensured Bayern remained at the top of the Bundesliga, ahead of RB Leipzig on goal difference. Kompany has been pleased with his team's offensive output, scoring 12 goals in their last three matches, and was satisfied with their response to the midweek defeat against Barcelona. "We stayed composed and worked on the details to improve," Kompany said of his team's approach last week. "That's our current mindset. Our aim is to take the next step forward."