Vincent Kompany’s collapse has the entire Bundesliga on edge. The Bayern Munich coach had to be taken to a hospital on Friday after suffering a medical emergency at the training facility on Säbener Straße. Now, Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac has also spoken out. The former Bayern coach made an urgent appeal to the public.
Before BVB’s Bundesliga match against Eintracht Frankfurt, Kovac was asked on Sky about his fellow coach’s health situation. The 55-year-old appeared deeply concerned and wished Kompany a speedy recovery.
However, what is particularly important to the Dortmund coach is that the Belgian now gets the rest he needs. Kovac knows from his own experience just how great the pressure can be as head coach of a top European club.
Kovac: “He needs the time.”
“But what’s important at this stage is to give him some rest, and he needs the time, because we all know how exhausting a coaching job like that is,” Kovac explained on Sky.
The BVB coach made it clear that his colleague’s health must currently take precedence over all sporting considerations. “And that’s why I truly wish him all the very best,” emphasized the former Bayern coach.
Kovac hopes that Kompany will recover quickly and that he’ll be able to speak with him in person again as soon as possible. However, he stressed that it’s crucial for the 40-year-old to have enough time to recover.
The Dortmund native is very familiar with the unique demands at FC Bayern. From 2018 to November 2019, Kovac himself stood on the sidelines for the German record champions and experienced the enormous pressure to succeed in Munich firsthand.
Bayern is giving Kompany all the time he needs to recover
Kompany collapsed on Friday afternoon on the sidelines during the reserve team’s training session. An emergency doctor was called, and an ambulance subsequently transported the Belgian to a Munich hospital.
In the days leading up to this, the Bayern coach had already been battling a persistent viral infection. As a result, he had to miss several appointments and training sessions earlier this week.
However, Kompany was already back on the sidelines for the 2-2 draw against Arsenal in the Champions League.
According to sporting director Max Eberl, the 40-year-old is now in stable condition. The exact cause of his collapse remains unclear and will be determined through further tests.
Kompany will therefore remain in the hospital for the time being. Eberl has already made it clear that the Munich club does not expect him to return within a few days.
Until further notice, assistant coach Aaron Danks will take over sporting responsibilities.
With his appeal, Kovac joins the many others who have sent get-well wishes to Kompany. His message is clear: the Bayern coach should be able to make a full recovery without any additional pressure.