Bayern Munich manager faces weeks in hospital after collapse

Vincent Kompany will be absent from the Bayern Munich dugout for a period measured in weeks, according to the club's director of sport Max Eberl. The announcement came on Saturday, confirming that the 40-year-old coach is still receiving hospital treatment for a virus following a collapse on the training pitch the previous day.

Eberl described Kompany's condition as stable but emphasized that medical examinations are still ongoing. The club has not set a recovery timeline, prioritizing a full understanding of the illness before discussing a return to duty. Eberl stated that the focus is currently on the diagnostic process rather than immediate tactical preparations.

Assistant coach Aaron Danks will lead the team for Sunday's Bundesliga fixture at Freiburg. Danks, who conducted the Saturday press conference in Kompany's absence, reported speaking briefly with the manager on Friday. He noted that the conversation was limited to health checks, with no football topics discussed, and assured that the coaching staff would operate as a unified team to maintain the club's momentum.

The club initially considered postponing the match but ultimately decided to proceed. Eberl argued that a strong performance and a positive result would serve as the best form of support for Kompany's recovery. Bayern's second team had already postponed their Friday match following the incident, but the first team's schedule remained unchanged.

Joshua Kimmich, the Germany captain, will also miss the trip to Freiburg. He has been on bereavement leave since Tuesday, adding another absence to the squad's lineup for the upcoming game. Danks confirmed this decision during his address to the media.

Kompany had returned to the sideline for Wednesday's home match against Arsenal, despite missing the pre-match press conference due to the virus. He later admitted to ignoring early warning signs of the illness. He described the experience as his body forcing a stop after he failed to listen to it.

Bayern enters Sunday's match as the Bundesliga leaders, holding a one-point advantage over Freiburg. The team will next compete in the Champions League on November 3 in Madrid against Atletico.