Bayern Munich faces Freiburg with one point and no head coach
Assistant coach Aaron Danks takes over for Sunday's match as Vincent Kompany remains hospitalized with an undiagnosed virus.
By Lina Lewis ·
Bayern Munich enters its Sunday match at Freiburg with a one-point lead in the Bundesliga and no head coach on the sideline. The club confirmed on Saturday that Vincent Kompany is still in the hospital receiving treatment for a virus that caused him to collapse on the training pitch the day before.
Director of Sport Max Eberl described Kompany’s condition as stable during a news conference. He noted that medical examinations are ongoing to identify the specific virus. Eberl stated that the club has not set a recovery timeline and that the absence will last for weeks rather than days. He emphasized that the team must understand the medical issue before discussing return dates.
Assistant coach Aaron Danks will lead the team against Freiburg. The English coach conducted the news conference in Kompany’s absence. Danks said he spoke with Kompany on Friday to check on his health. He explained that they avoided discussing football tactics during the brief conversation. Danks affirmed that the coaching staff will manage all football operations as a unit.
The club postponed Bayern’s second team match on Friday after the collapse. Eberl said the team decided against requesting a delay for the Bundesliga fixture. He believed a strong performance would serve Kompany best during his recovery. A positive result on the pitch was described as one of the most helpful things the players could do for their coach.
Midfielder Joshua Kimmich will also miss the game. Danks confirmed that the Germany captain has been on bereavement leave since Tuesday. Kompany returned to the dugout for Wednesday’s match against Arsenal despite feeling unwell. He admitted afterward that he ignored early warning signs. He described the virus as nasty and said his body eventually forced him to stop.
Bayern currently holds the top spot in the league table. The team trails Freiburg by a single point. The club’s next major competition fixture is scheduled for November 3 in Madrid against Atletico.
