Bayern Munich: Danks takes over as Kompany hospitalized

Bayern Munich fans will see a new face on the bench during Sunday's Bundesliga match at Freiburg. Vincent Kompany, the 40-year-old head coach, is expected to be away from his post for several weeks as he receives treatment for a virus. The club confirmed on Saturday that Kompany remains in hospital in stable condition, a day after he collapsed on the training pitch.

Max Eberl, the director of sport, stated that medical examinations are ongoing to determine the specific nature of the illness. The club has not set a specific return date, prioritizing a full understanding of the medical issue before discussing a timeline. Eberl noted that the absence will be measured in weeks, not days, and that the team will give Kompany all the time he needs.

Aaron Danks, the English assistant coach, will take charge of the squad for the game in Freiburg. Danks led the press conference on Saturday in place of Kompany. He revealed that he spoke briefly with the former Manchester City and Belgium captain on Friday. The conversation was focused on health rather than tactics, as Danks told Kompany they would not discuss football during the call.

"All the football operations are in our hands, and we'll work together as a team to keep the club moving forward," Danks said. The club decided not to seek a postponement for the Bundesliga fixture. Eberl argued that a strong performance and a positive result would be the best way to support Kompany's recovery.

Bayern's second team match on Friday was postponed following the incident. Danks also confirmed that Joshua Kimmich, the Germany captain, will miss the Freiburg game after returning from bereavement leave. Kimmich has been away from the squad since Tuesday.

Kompany had returned to the dugout for Wednesday's home match against Arsenal, despite missing the pre-match news conference due to the virus. He admitted to ignoring early warning signs. "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 currently leads the Bundesliga table, sitting one point ahead of Freiburg. The team is scheduled to play its next Champions League fixture on November 3 against Atletico Madrid in Madrid.