Eberl says Kompany will need 'weeks' to recover after collapse at Bayern training

Vincent Kompany collapsed at Bayern Munich's training ground on Friday and will take 'weeks' to recover, the club's director of sport Max Eberl said. Kompany, 40, remains in a "stable" condition in hospital and "examinations were continuing".

Bayern Munich are joint top of the Bundesliga after four wins from their opening six games as Kompany attempts to lead them to a third consecutive title. The Bayern boss had been unwell with a virus and missed the pre-match news conference on Tuesday for the club's Champions League game against Arsenal, but was on the touchline for Wednesday's match.

Kompany was taken to hospital after collapsing as he watched the club's second team train. Eberl said he had questioned whether he "should have put the brakes on him earlier". "Vinnie will be given all the time he needs. We're not starting to put together any timeframes," Eberl added.

On the club's response, Eberl said: "The fact is, we protect our coach wherever we can." He continued: "If a coach says he feels ready to do something, then we're not going to say 'we won't allow that' if we don't know what's going on." Eberl also stressed personal responsibility, saying: "It's also everyone's own responsibility to say, 'I can't carry on now'."

Speaking about Kompany's approach to work, Eberl said: "Vinnie's a hard worker. If you don't listen to the subtle signals your body sends, eventually it will scream out in pain." He added: "Vinnie will be given that time [now], and we'll continue to try, even more than before, to protect him from himself."

Kompany spent 11 years at Manchester City as a player, winning four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four League Cups, before moving into management with Burnley. After guiding Burnley to the 2022-23 Championship title, he was unable to keep the Clarets in the Premier League; he left to take over at Bayern in May 2024 and has led them to successive Bundesliga titles.

Kompany's assistant Aaron Danks has spoken with the Bayern boss in hospital, saying: "I explained to him that we would be having no football conversations." He added: "It was just checking in on his health and making sure he's OK." Eberl said the club had considered asking for Sunday's Bundesliga game at Freiburg to be postponed but believed the best tonic for Kompany would be to "play and be successful."