Vincent Kompany's collapse on Friday during a training session for Bayern Munich's second team, which the 40-year-old Belgian coach was closely following, is just one sign of a bigger problem. To understand what is really going on with the former Manchester City defender and Pep Guardiola's apprentice, we need to look elsewhere: at the obsession with work, which he has inherited from the Catalan coach. This situation is seriously worrying Bayern's management, who now consider it necessary for Kompany to "significantly slow down", as the Munich newspaper TZ reveals, and only return to work when he has fully recovered.
Bayern's concern is related to the fact that what happened to the Belgian yesterday was not a completely unexpected event. According to what TZ reports again, just a few days ago he had spent a night in hospital and had undergone detailed checks, but without any problems being discovered. It has long been known within the Bavarian club that Kompany sleeps very little, as he stays up late at night analyzing opponents.
Kompany in hospital after fall: team relies on substitute
What he did on Friday is a clear indication of how much he is pushing himself, beyond his limits. After the first team's training session, which is scheduled to take place today against Freiburg in the Bundesliga, after the midweek Champions League match, the Bayern coach did not rest, but went to watch the reserve team's training. It was there that he collapsed, necessitating his emergency transport to hospital.
"Vincent Kompany will undergo detailed examinations in hospital and will remain under the care of doctors," the German champions, who are currently joint top of the league with Borussia Dortmund after the first six weeks of the season, said in a statement. "For the time being, his technical staff will take over the running of training sessions and matches."
Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany fully involved in his training sessions
by u/David Rolands in soccer
The Belgian also had health problems during the week
Kompany's behavior, which led to his fall, must be seen in the context of a very difficult week for his health, which also explains Bayern's concern. For several days, the Belgian had been battling a rather serious viral infection, which caused pain in his legs and aggravated old problems in the groin area. He had difficulty climbing stairs and standing for long periods of time.
Since last Saturday, during the 6-1 win over Leipzig, the coach had sat on the bench for most of the match. He had given a speech to the team, but was forced to lie down on the dressing room sofa both during the break and after the match. He then skipped post-match interviews. On Monday and Tuesday, Kompany missed training, as well as the press conference before the Champions League match against Arsenal.
His deputy, Aaron Danks, replaced him at the press conference, explaining that the virus was causing pain in his leg and that doctors had advised him to rest completely. However, the following day, Kompany sat on the bench as normal for the match that ended 2-2 against Arsenal. In the post-match interview, he admitted that he had overextended himself: “As a coach, you always want to do everything and give the maximum. Last week I had a pretty bad viral infection and, of course, I didn’t listen to my body. At one point, the body said: Enough!”
Bayern worried: wants to rest Kompany
So, doctors had advised him to stop, but Kompany had refused and continued working both in the Bundesliga and in the Champions League. In the end, his body reacted, causing him to collapse and frightening everyone at Bayern. Now the club aims to keep the coach under control, so that he can rest enough, recover fully and avoid the risk of more serious consequences.
"Vincent Kompany's health is our absolute priority," said Max Eberl, the Bavarian club's sporting director. "At Bayern we will do everything possible to ensure his speedy recovery. Vinnie is receiving all the necessary medical care and support and will be given all the time he needs. His technical staff, in whom we have complete confidence, will take over his responsibilities. Everyone at Bayern wishes him a speedy recovery." Above all, the club will try to keep him rested, a mission that will not be easy.
