Bayern pledge to ‘push through the pain’ against Real; Arteta urges Arsenal to play with ‘pure fire’ after defeats

Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany said Tuesday his side need to be ready to “push through the pain barrier” to make it past Real Madrid and qualify for the Champions League semi-finals.

Bayern beat Real 2-1 in the first leg in Madrid and need to avoid defeat at home on Wednesday to reach the final four.

Kompany told reporters that Bayern’s desire against the 15-time European champions would be key.

“It depends on many things. In games like this, the individual quality of the players is always decisive. But there’s also the collective intensity and a readiness to push through the pain barrier,” Kompany said.

“Every detail matters in games like this, but for us what’s most important is that we’re mentally and physically well prepared.

“We’re also looking forward to the match and that’s something you need, positive emotions.”

Bayern dominated much of the match in Madrid but still needed veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to pull off several spectacular saves.

“My feeling after the match was that we could have gone a level higher. And that’s pretty good when you win 2-1 at the Bernabeu and think, ‘We could have done more’,” Kompany added.

The former Manchester City captain has Bayern on track for a Champions League semi-final less than two years after he was relegated from the Premier League with Burnley, in what was his first season managing in the top flight of a major European league.

The 40-year-old said he does not care that he is being hyped as one of football’s best new coaches, as he did not listen to criticism during his time at Burnley.

Kompany also praised Marie-Louise Eta, who on Sunday became the first female coach of a men’s team in a top-five European league when she was named Union Berlin boss.

“It’s a key moment. It’s easy to minimise and say she’s just a coach like everybody else -- and of course that’s how we have to treat her -- but at the end it’s something special,” the Belgian said.

Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta has challenged Arsenal to play with “pure fire” as they look to bounce back from a series of damaging defeats in Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Sporting Lisbon.

Arteta’s side can reach the semi-finals of the competition for a second successive season if they finish off Sporting at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners go into the quarter-final second leg with a 1-0 lead after last week’s game in Lisbon.

But that narrow success was Arsenal’s only victory in their last four matches, with three defeats sparking claims Arteta and his team are choking as the pressure mounts at the business end of the season.

“There is no fear. Pure fire. That’s it. Me, the first one. Pure fire. That’s what I want to see on the players, on the people, on myself,” he insisted at his pre-match press conference.

“Fire! I’m on fire. I’m on fire. That’s it. Nothing else. I’m dreaming so much. I’ve done so much to be in this position because I know how this club was. I’ve done so much and this is beauty.”

Losing the League Cup final against Manchester City and the FA Cup quarter-final against second-tier Southampton was bad enough.

But a shock 2-1 home defeat against Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday left Arteta facing pointed questions about Arsenal’s character.

Arsenal are just six points ahead of second-placed City, who have a game in hand and host the Gunners in a seismic showdown on Sunday.

The north Londoners have finished Premier League runners-up for the past three seasons -- twice blowing substantial leads to City in 2023 and 2024.

They have also failed to win a trophy since the 2020 FA Cup, which remains the only silverware won by Arteta in over six years in charge.

There is a growing feeling of deja vu among a nervous Arsenal fan-base, but Arteta launched a passionate defence of his squad.

“We are in April, we have an incredible opportunity ahead of us. Let’s confront it, let’s go for it by really putting absolutely everything into it,” added the Spaniard.

“I want to get it done for all these people that have been in this journey with us. And because they deserve it, because it’s been unbelievable. That’s what is driving me every single day. I have zero fear.”

Arsenal haven’t lifted the Premier League since 2004 and have never won the Champions League.

If they make the Champions League last four this season, it would be the first time they have reached the semi-finals of the competition in two consecutive seasons.

Agencies