Danilo compares Chelsea to Bayern and eyes duel with Harry Kane

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With 14 seasons of experience in European football, Danilo does not see a big difference in the level between Chelsea and Bayern Munich. On Friday (27), the defender commented on the statement given by Bruno Henrique, who said that the German team, Flamengo's rival in the round of 16 of the Club World Cup, is better than the English team, which was defeated by the Red-and-Black in the group stage.

"I don't believe that Bayern is much better than Chelsea. I'll have to disagree a little with Bruno (Henrique). But I do think that Bayern has some players with a bit more experience. Chelsea is a very physical and reactive team that forces us to be at a very high physical level during the game. Bayern has some players who can control the pace of the game more and try to have greater ball possession, which will require us to adopt a different approach and also a different mindset," said the defender.

"What this doesn't mean is that we'll need to be at our absolute best level, even more than on the day of the Chelsea match, because it's a knockout stage. Bayern is used to playing this type of match and I believe they are also looking with concern at what there is in Flamengo. Those who make fewer mistakes and who stay focused for longer will have more chances to advance," Danilo concluded.

• But from the World Cup, younger players Filipe Luís and Kompany share journeys and inspirations
• Filipe Luís projects performance with the DNA of Flamengo against Bayern: 'Anything can happen'
• Flamengo defender looks ahead to Bayern clash and highlights work of former teammate

At 33 years old, Danilo reinforced Flamengo in January 2025 and quickly assumed a leadership role in the red-and-black dressing room. After 14 seasons playing in European football for Porto, Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Juventus, the defender knows the opponent on Sunday (29) well.

In addition, he was a teammate of Vincent Kompany, current coach of Bayern Munich, in England, has a promising start to his career and shares inspirations with Filipe Luís .

"It's a bit concerning, I'm going to play and both coaches were my teammates (laughs), so it means I'm getting close to this step. I think it's wonderful that historical clubs like Flamengo and Bayern have such young coaches, passionate about the sport and scholars. This is what football needs. They have been showing that they are on the right path and they deserve all this trust," joked Danilo, before continuing about the Belgian coach and former teammate.

O Vincent was my captain at Manchester City, an extremely intelligent guy, the brain and very competitive. Often he would get cut in his central vein and would become very nervous because he is so competitive, he went through all the restructuring of Manchester City and was a great representative of the winning Manchester City team. An interesting duel between two coaches from the new generation who have a bright future ahead. I hope that Filipe Luís leaves happier, Kompany will have other opportunities to be happy as a coach," he concluded.

Check below for more answers from Danilo, defender of Flamengo:

Collective or individual

The individual player matters a lot. In a balanced match, our priority is for each player not to lose their one-on-one battles. When someone is individually having a more inspired day, they can win their battles and this creates many imbalances in the game. And it is there that the game is decided. We talk a lot about systems, space... Indeed, football has evolved a lot and for the better. But football is the summary of what happens in the two penalty areas. The area where we defend, to avoid conceding goals, and the area over there, where you decide the game and score goals. For this, the individuality of each player carries weight. The tactical system is something inspirational to be able, in the end, to highlight the individual performance of each player. I hope that individually we can be inspired, as it will be necessary.

World Cup of Brazilian teams

Brazilian teams are doing very well. I think people in Brazil are very proud of the football we have seen in these last weeks. The results are because Brazilian teams are very good, they have very good players and coaches. The only problem is that we don't have opportunities to face European teams. As soon as we do, we show our qualities, our best football. I think it's good for the whole world to be watching these games, and I hope that in the near future we can have more matches like this, because people are enjoying them.

Bruno Henrique analyzes Flamengo's approach against Bayern Duel with Harry Kane

Talking about an individual duel is difficult. I believe a lot in teamwork, in the entire defensive system, to be able to play a great game, especially in this type of confrontation. It's very hard to talk about an individual confrontation without considering the coverages, with the pressure from the forwards. Talking only about one player is also difficult, Bayern has players like Leroy Sané, who was my teammate at Manchester City and has certain experience, but also has a blossoming youth, he is very fast, unpredictable. I saw that Musiala will also be available, he is a player who has been showing to be different from the others. Flamengo, as a defensive system, will need to have an important day to get through.

World Cup switching

It's a problem for Danilo further down the line, because Bayern is already a pretty big issue this Sunday. This reflects life a lot. Certainly, we've already exchanged ideas among ourselves about whether to go ahead, there's this team and that team. It's like everything in life, often we worry about what's coming next, about future problems that we don't even know how they'll arrive, and we forget to focus on and enjoy what's happening now. A beautiful match and history for Flamengo and for Brazilian football. It's about enjoying this moment and demonstrating the utmost qualities, because the future is uncertain.

Does the temperature benefit Flamengo?

It's an important factor as long as we are at our best in other aspects of the game. It doesn't help to have a heater, for us to say here that the Brazilian player is more adapted to this, if we are not technically prepared, tactically focused, strong in each duel. It can be important as long as we are at a good level in other factors as well.

Trust through victory over Chelsea

Before the game against Chelsea, I said in the locker room that history is made of various events over the years. History is not made in one day. But I also said that there are specific moments that change the course of history and that the game against Chelsea was one of those specific moments that could be an important milestone to climb a step in the history of this group. It was an important turnaround, but I said afterwards that what would determine the importance of that game would be what we did from then on, if we could maintain the mentality. Technically and tactically, I believe this team has an important level of maturity, and what can fluctuate is the behavior we have in each match, and this depends on us. Maintaining the same level of behavior regardless of the opponent.

Related Articles Flamengo reaches the round of 16 undefeated. The team with Filipe Luís won against Espérance and Chelsea and drew with LAFC, leading Group D with seven points.

Flamengo and Bayern Munich will face each other next Sunday (29), in Orlando, at 5 PM Brasília time. Check here, all the defined round of sixteen matches.

The portal UD News Sports Stream the live narration of this and all the other games. FIFA Club World Cup . Results, classification, and top scorers are updated after every goal.

Whoever wins will face the winner of the matchup between Paris Saint-Germain, from France, and Inter Miami, from the United States, in the quarterfinals of the World Club Cup.

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