FC Bayern will continue to be without head coach Vincent Kompany. Following his illness, the Belgian is still recovering. While there has been some positive news regarding his health, it remains unclear when the 40-year-old will be able to return to the sidelines. Sports director Max Eberl has now provided another update.
Even before the DFB Cup match against 1. FC Magdeburg, Eberl had confirmed that Kompany had since been discharged from the hospital. The Bayern coach had been diagnosed with meningitis.
Since then, the record-holding champions’ management has been clear that Kompany should be given all the time he needs for a full recovery. Even ahead of the Bundesliga classic against Borussia Dortmund, this stance has not changed.
Eberl: “We’re trying to give him some peace and quiet.”
In an interview with Sky, Eberl explained that their conversations with Kompany are currently—and intentionally—not focused on sports-related topics. “We’re trying to give him some space. Still, of course, you ask a friend—someone who’s been through life with you—how he’s doing,” emphasized the 52-year-old.
Of course, Kompany continues to follow his team’s performances. Following the recent victories against Freiburg and Magdeburg, the Belgian has also offered positive feedback.
However, the focus of their conversations is on other things. “The conversations really revolve more around life—what’s been happening, how we interact with one another, and how we’ll look out for each other in the future,” Eberl explained.
With this, the Bayern boss once again underscores that the coach’s health is currently the top priority.
No timeline for Kompany’s return
Eberl left open the possibility of whether Kompany might be able to fully return to day-to-day business during the upcoming international break. “With this illness, it’s rather difficult to say at this point that it will take X days or X weeks,” the sporting director clarified.
At any rate, the Belgian’s health appears to be steadily improving. “His recovery is progressing; he’s feeling better every day—and that’s the most important thing for now,” Eberl reported.
The upcoming medical examinations will be decisive for a possible return. Only once the doctors give the green light will Kompany likely be able to resume his daily routine more intensively.
Eberl assumes, however, that the ambitious Bayern coach himself wants to return as soon as possible. “Then I’m relatively certain he’ll be pressing the doctor hard to find out when the right moment might be,” the 52-year-old explained.
Until then, FC Bayern will have to continue without its head coach. In the Bundesliga classic against Borussia Dortmund, assistant coach Aaron Danks will once again take charge on the sidelines.
For the Munich club, it’s clear that sporting time pressures will not play a role in Kompany’s recovery. He will not return until the Belgian is fully healthy and meets all medical requirements.