Kompany return will take weeks, not days, says Bayern Munich

Kompany was hospitalised on Friday after he collapsed during a training session. The club said Kompany is a stable condition and has responded well to treatment, as he continues to be monitored by doctors. | Photo Credit: AP

Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany is set to be sidelined for an extended period of time, with the club confirming there is no return date yet.

Kompany was hospitalised on Friday after he collapsed during a training session. The club said Kompany is a stable condition and has responded well to treatment, as he continues to be monitored by doctors.

“Vinnie will be given all the time he needs. We’re not starting to put together any timeframes,” Bayern sporting director Max Eberl said.

“We need to firstly figure out what it is and then we’ll discuss calmly what recovery time is to be. We won’t be talking about days, but weeks. We need to all be clear on that.”

In Kompany’s absence, his assistant Aaron Danks will be Bayern’s stand-in manager. Danks’ first game in charge is on Sunday against Freiburg.

ALSO READ | Vincent Kompany collapses during training

In a press conference, Danks said he had spoken with the former centre-back briefly on Friday but only to wish him well.

“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.

“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 yesterday after Kompany’s collapse but Eberl said the club opted not 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.”