Vincent Kompany to miss weeks as Bayern Munich visits Freiburg

Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany will sit out for several weeks due to a viral infection, the club announced on Saturday. The 40-year-old manager is currently stable in a hospital after collapsing on the training ground the previous day.

Max Eberl, the club’s director of sport, addressed reporters to confirm the diagnosis is still under investigation. He stated that medical teams are continuing examinations to identify the specific nature of the illness. Eberl emphasized that the club is not setting a strict recovery schedule and wants to prioritize understanding the condition first.

"Vinnie will be given all the time he needs. We're not starting to put together any timeframes," Eberl said. He noted that the absence will be measured in weeks rather than days and that the staff would discuss recovery plans calmly once the medical picture is clearer.

Aaron Danks, the English assistant coach, will guide the team for Sunday’s Bundesliga match against Freiburg. Danks led the Saturday press conference and reported speaking briefly with Kompany on Friday. He described the conversation as a health check rather than a tactical discussion.

"I explained to him that we wouldn't be having no football conversations. It was just checking in on his health and making sure he's OK," Danks said. He added that the coaching staff would work as a unit to maintain the club's momentum.

The club decided not to request a postponement for the upcoming league fixture. Eberl argued that a strong performance and a positive result would be the best way to aid Kompany’s recovery. He also confirmed that Joshua Kimmich, who has been on bereavement leave since Tuesday, will not play on Sunday.

Kompany returned to the dugout for Wednesday’s home match against Arsenal despite missing the pre-match conference. He admitted to ignoring early warning signs of the virus. "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!" he said. Bayern enters Sunday’s game with a one-point lead over Freiburg, their next opponent. The team will next play Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on November 3.

The Bayern second team match on Friday was postponed following the incident. The club’s primary focus remains on the immediate league fixture and the manager’s ongoing treatment.