Bayern Munich legend Thomas Müller thinks Vincent Kompany is ready to ‘take the next step’ by beating Real Madrid

MUNICH, GERMANY - MARCH 29: Vincent Kompany, head coach of of FC Bayern München talks to his player Thomas Müller during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and FC St. Pauli 1910 at Allianz Arena on March 29, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Thomas Müller has always had nuanced takes about football, and he is impressed by what Bayern Munich are doing this season. Vincent Kompany has coached a brilliant side that is poised to knock Real Madrid out of the UEFA Champions League, something that FC Bayern have not done since 2012.

Despite this, Müller remains rightfully wary about what the stars on the Madrid side are capable of. Speaking to the media (via @iMiaSanMia) the former Bayern Munich stalwart gave his opinion on the tie.

“To be honest, Real Madrid aren’t quite as strong this year as we’ve seen them in the past,” said the man known as the Raumdeuter. “But they’re still packed with excellent individual players. They can always hurt you, they can always be dangerous.”

This was seen in the first leg, where Kylian Mbappé pounced on a singular chance to cut the Bavarians’ lead in half. With players like him, as well as Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and more, Madrid remain a threat in the second leg. Despite this, Müller maintains confidence in the team.

“For FC Bayern, the whole season has been going well and you can feel that the team is ready to take the next step,” he added. “The chances of reaching the semifinals are obviously good, but first you have to take that final step. A game like this is up and down. It’s not all linear upwards.

“Bayern have been very stable this season, and you need that stability so that a setback, a misplaced pass, or a goal against you doesn’t throw you off track.”

Is he hinting at something? Does he think that there are setbacks coming in the future? Whatever Müller means, it is a glowing review of the work Vincent Kompany has done at Bayern Munich thus far. Now, will the team take that next step by beating Madrid? We’ll find out on Wednesday.

If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…

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