"HUGE MISTAKE": VINCENT KOMPANY SLAMS JOSE MOURINHO FOR ATTACKING VINíCIUS JúNIOR’S CHARACTER
Vincent Kompany hits back at Jose Mourinho! Discover why the Bayern boss thinks Mourinho’s Eusébio comments are a "huge mistake."
Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany didn’t hold back after hearing Jose Mourinho’s comments about Vinicius Jr and the alleged racist abuse the Real Madrid star faced.
Here’s what happened. On Tuesday night, Benfica and Madrid played in the Champions League play-off first leg at Estadio da Luz. Vinicius Jr put Madrid ahead in the 50th minute, then, right after scoring, he went straight to the referee, Francois Letexier, to report racist abuse. Vinicius claimed Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, just 20 years old, targeted him. Prestianni quickly denied it, putting out a statement saying he didn’t say anything racist.
UEFA has already stepped in, appointing an ethics and disciplinary inspector to investigate. That process might take about three weeks, according to Sky Sports.
Then Mourinho weighed in. After the match, he suggested Vinicius brought on the tension himself with his goal celebration. He even dragged in Benfica legend Eusebio’s name when talking about racism. Here’s what Mourinho said: “I told him, when you score a goal like that, just celebrate and walk back. When he started talking about racism, I told him the biggest person in this club’s history was Black. This club is the last thing that is racist. If he thought something happened, that’s in his mind. Vinicius and Prestianni told me different things, but I don’t believe in either side. I want to be independent.”
Kompany was having none of it. He called out Mourinho for trying to discredit Vinicius and using Eusebio’s legacy as a shield.
“You have Mourinho, someone in a position of power, attacking Vinicius’ character over a celebration, just to dismiss what Vinicius is experiencing,” Kompany said. “And then he brings up Eusebio, as if having a Black club legend means Benfica can’t have a problem with racism. Does he actually know what Black players went through in the ‘60s? Was he there, travelling with Eusebio to see the abuse he faced all over Europe?”
Kompany got personal. “My dad’s a Black man from the ‘60s, too. Back then, the only option was to stay quiet, say nothing, and be ten times better just to get the smallest bit of respect. That was probably Eusebio’s reality. Now, Mourinho’s using his name to make a point against Vini Jr, who’s finally in a position to speak up? There are so many players across Europe, in Hungary, Bulgaria, and Serbia, who don’t have a voice if something like this happens. No one supports them.
“But Vini Jr, at least, can stand up now because others before him made it possible. He gets to protest, and that matters.”
MATTHAUS WARNS KOMPANY: DO NOT CHANGE ATTACKING STYLE DESPITE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE EXIT
Bayern have secured the Bundesliga! Read why Matthaus wants more "spectacular football" despite the 6-5 aggregate loss to PSG.
Lothar Matthaus has called on Vincent Kompany to continue with his attacking style, despite Bayern Munich's exit from the Champions League at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain. The German legend feels Bayern’s entertaining approach shouldn’t be altered even though their defence showed vulnerabilities during the 6-5 aggregate loss in the semi-finals.
After conceding six goals over two legs, Bayern’s Champions League run came to an end. While the defeat exposed defensive issues, it also highlighted the offensive strategy Kompany has brought to the team. These defensive struggles aren’t limited to Europe either; high-scoring Bundesliga matches, like the 4-3 win over Mainz and the 3-3 draw with Heidenheim, have revealed a back line that’s still trying to find the right balance between taking risks and maintaining solidity.
Matthaus, who once captained Bayern, stresses that the club should stick with Kompany’s attacking mindset, even if it leaves them open at the back. He pointed out, “With such an attacking style of play, you can't defend everything, of course. Yes, they've conceded quite a few goals, but they’re still having a successful season and are close to winning the double. They’ve even made it to the Champions League semi-finals.”
The return of excitement at the Allianz Arena was clear, especially during the second leg when Ousmane Dembele’s early goal stunned the crowd. Although Harry Kane’s late equaliser wasn’t enough to turn the tie around, Matthaus sees positives in the bigger picture. He believes Bayern has brought back the thrill and flair fans expect.
“While Bayern didn’t play their best in the semi-final second leg against PSG, they have entertained throughout the year. I look forward to their matches because they’re usually packed with goals. Bayern stands for spectacular football, and this season has been no different. I wouldn’t move away from that style,” Matthaus shared.
With the focus shifting back to domestic competitions, Bayern have already secured the Bundesliga championship. They still have two league games left against Wolfsburg and Koln before preparing for the DFB-Pokal final against Stuttgart on May 23.
BAYERN MUNICH RULE OUT MARCUS RASHFORD MOVE REGARDLESS OF ANTHONY GORDON OUTCOME
Marcus Rashford is not a target for Bayern Munich this summer, as the club focuses entirely on signing Gordon from Newcastle.
Bayern Munich aren’t considering a move for Marcus Rashford this summer, no matter what happens with Anthony Gordon. That’s according to a German reporter who’s close to the story.
Right now, Rashford is wrapping up his loan at Barcelona. He’s set to return to Manchester United at the end of the season. Barcelona have an option to make the deal permanent for €30 million (£26 million) in the summer. Both Rashford and Barcelona want him to stay, but here’s the catch: the club doesn’t want to pay the full €30 million.
Barcelona would rather keep Rashford on loan for another year or get him for a lower fee. Manchester United’s not having it. They want the full price, so Barcelona are starting to look at other players.
Rashford hasn’t made a secret of where he wants to be. Earlier in the season, he told Sport, one of the local Barcelona papers, about how much he wants to stay, saying, “Of course, what I want is to stay at Barca. It’s the ultimate goal.” He talked about the pressure and expectations at the club, saying they keep him motivated and that he feels like he’s in the perfect environment to grow and win trophies. For now, though, it’s all up in the air until next summer.
Last year, Bayern Munich actually showed some interest in Rashford before he went to Barcelona. But now, they’re focused on signing Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United for the left wing. The problem is, Gordon’s interested, but Newcastle’s price is ridiculous, reportedly around £80 million (€92.6 million). That’s much higher than what Bayern’s willing to pay. They’re thinking closer to £60 million (€69.4 million), and maybe with add-ons or an instalment plan. If Newcastle won’t budge, it probably isn’t happening.
Christian Falk, a trusted journalist from Bild, says Bayern aren’t considering Rashford as a backup if they can’t land Gordon. Bayern’s got a short list of players for the left wing, and Rashford isn’t on it. Gordon’s their main focus, but even if that deal falls through, Rashford’s not the next in line.
So at this stage, Bayern and Rashford won’t be coming together this summer, even if Gordon stays at Newcastle. That’s just not in the plans.
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