Bayern Munich manager lavishes praise on Real Madrid megastar – ‘You need players who are different’ | OneFootball

It was another complicated night for Vinicius Jr. at Santiago Bernabeu, and not just because Real Madrid fell 1-2 to Bayern Munich.

The Brazilian found himself at the centre of attention, but for all the wrong reasons.

From early on, it was clear this was not going to be his night. Every time he tried to take on his man or drive forward, things just did not quite click. 

The sharpness that usually makes him dangerous was missing, and as the mistakes began to stack up, so did the frustration inside the stadium.

Unpleasant atmosphere at the Bernabeu

It reached a point where the reaction from the crowd became impossible to ignore.

A loose touch here, a failed dribble there and suddenly, the noise grew. The Bernabeu crowd made its feelings clear. 

Vinicius, already struggling to find rhythm, now had to deal with growing pressure from the stands as well.

The defining moment came when he was presented with a golden opportunity.

Vinicius Jr. was targeted by the Bernabeu crowd. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Clean through on goal, one-on-one with Manuel Neuer, it was the kind of chance he normally thrives on. But this time, he couldn’t convert.

That miss summed up his night.

Praise from Kompany

Yet, while criticism grew around him, there was a very different tone coming from the opposition bench.

Speaking after the match, Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany chose not to focus on the errors, but on the player behind them. 

The former Manchester City defender framed Vinicius as a unique profile in modern football, someone who does not always fit the mould, but makes the game more unpredictable because of it.

“This is the first time I’ve met Vini Jr. I think he should stay exactly the way he is. And he has my full support, whether he’s a rival or not,” he said as per Goal.

Kompany then went a step further, drawing a comparison that adds real weight to his words. 

“I think sometimes you need players who are different. 

“Franck Ribery was one of those for Bayern Munich, and you’re entitled to your opinion about those players, but you can’t cross a line, and that’s why I have a lot of respect for Vini,” he concluded..