Flamengo head coach Filipe Luis has admitted that European clubs are still ahead in world football after his team’s 4-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Club World Cup last-16 clash on Sunday.
The match saw the German side take an early two-goal lead, leaving Flamengo chasing the game from the start.
Despite a brave effort to fight back, Flamengo could not match Bayern’s overall quality.
The result sets up a quarter-final match between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.
After the game, Luis spoke honestly about the reality of facing top European sides.
“The pressure they put on you is immense. They come at you with eight, 10 players,” he said during his post-match interview.
“They deserved to win. Our plan did work to an extent, and we created chances, but they were better than us. We’re playing against the football elite,” he added.
The former Atlético Madrid defender pointed out the gap in talent between Europe and South America.
He suggested that while Brazil produces world-class talent, Europe eventually signs the best players.
“If Vinícius Júnior had not left for Real Madrid, we would have the best player in the world. They [Europe] have better players, that’s a fact,” Luis stated.
Moreover, Luis praised the performance of other Brazilian teams during the group stages of the competition.
However, he noted that results like the one against Bayern Munich highlight the difference at the highest level.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich’s head coach Vincent Kompany also gave his thoughts after the match.
He emphasized that football talent exists across all continents.
“In any competition, it’s the quality of the players, but also the belief,” Kompany said.
“Some of the best finishers in the world are from South America. And look at the tacticians, Bielsa, Filipe Luis, and many others. Football is in their blood,” he added.
Furthermore, teams like Flamengo continue to push their limits and show that they belong on the global stage.
