Vincent Kompany to miss ‘weeks, not days’ with virus treatment say Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich expect Vincent Kompany to miss an extended period as their head coach continues his hospital treatment for a virus after collapsing on the training pitch on Friday. Pic: Andrew Milligan/Press Association.

Bayern Munich expect Vincent Kompany to miss an extended period as their head coach continues his hospital treatment for a virus after collapsing on the training pitch on Friday.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Bayern’s sporting director, Max Eberl, confirmed Kompany was still in hospital in a stable condition.

Kompany’s English assistant coach, Aaron Danks, will replace the 40-year-old for Sunday’s Bundesliga match at Freiburg.

Eberl said examinations were continuing to determine the nature of the former Manchester City and Belgium captain’s condition, with a recovery timeframe yet to be determined.

Bayern Munich expect Vincent Kompany to miss an extended period as their head coach continues his hospital treatment for a virus after collapsing on the training pitch on Friday. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Bayern’s sporting director, Max Eberl, confirmed Kompany was still in hospital in a stable condition.

Kompany’s English assistant coach, Aaron Danks, will replace the 40-year-old for Sunday’s Bundesliga match at Freiburg. Eberl said examinations were continuing to determine the nature of the former Manchester City and Belgium captain’s condition, with a recovery timeframe yet to be determined.

Danks added: “All the football operations are in our hands and we’ll work together as a team to keep the club moving forward.” Bayern’s second team’s game was postponed on Friday after Kompany’s collapse but Eberl said the club did not consider trying to postpone Sunday’s Bundesliga game.

“I think the greatest joy for Vinnie would be for us to play well tomorrow and, ideally, get a positive result,” Eberl said. “That would probably be one of the best things we could do to help him recover.” Danks confirmed the Germany captain, Joshua Kimmich, who has been on bereavement leave since Tuesday, would also miss Sunday’s game.

Kompany returned to the dugout for Wednesday’s home Champions League 2-2 draw with Arsenal despite missing the pre-match press conference due to the virus. Speaking after the Arsenal game, Kompany said his body reacted after he tried to push through the illness.

“I caught a pretty nasty virus last week, and of course I didn’t listen to my body – and then at some point my body just said: ‘Enough is enough!’”

The defending champions are top of the Bundesliga table at the start of the weekend, level on 14 points with Borussia Dortmund and one ahead of Freiburg and Leverkusen.

Bayern’s next Champions League match is on 3 November in Spain against Atlético Madrid.