Bayern Munich confirmed on Saturday that coach Vincent Kompany would miss several weeks after collapsing at the training ground on Friday. Director of Sport Max Eberl said the 40-year-old remained in a stable condition in hospital while further examinations continued.
Kompany collapsed while watching a Bayern reserves training session. The club stated that he had required medical attention and would stay under care. He had battled a virus in recent days and missed some sessions earlier in the week.
Eberl spoke at a news conference and stressed that the club would not rush the coach’s return. “Vinnie will be given all the time he needs. We’re not starting to put together any timeframes,” he said. “We need to first figure out what it is, and then we’ll calmly discuss what the recovery time is. We won’t be talking about days but weeks. We need to all be clear on that.”
Eberl added that Kompany would only return once fully fit. He noted that health came first and that the club stood together during the situation. Doctors continued tests to identify the exact cause and determine the proper recovery path.
Assistant coach Aaron Danks prepared to lead the team for Sunday’s Bundesliga match at Freiburg. Bayern decided against seeking a postponement of the fixture. Eberl explained that a positive result would likely provide the best support for Kompany during his recovery.
Kompany had appeared on the touchline for Wednesday’s 2-2 Champions League draw against Arsenal despite the ongoing virus. After that match he acknowledged that he had not listened to his body. The coaching staff assumed full control of training and match duties until further notice.
