How is Kompany doing? Bayern coach watches the spectacle from the bench

Will Vincent Kompany be back on the sidelines for FC Bayern’s Champions League showdown against FC Arsenal? The 40-year-old was unable to do so during Munich’s 6-1 rout of RB Leipzig. “We’re confident that it won’t be a problem for Wednesday,” said sporting director Max Eberl about the coach, who watched the charge to the top of the table from the bench. At least for one night, Bayern are in first place in the Bundesliga; then SC Freiburg could overtake them again with a win in Leverkusen.

Hat-trick hero Díaz takes the game ball home

Hat-trick hero Luis Díaz left the arena with the game ball under his arm. In a one-sided match against Champions League participant Leipzig, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Michael Olise, and Harry Kane—in his 100th Bundesliga game—scored the other goals for Munich. Andrija Maksimovic’s goal to make it 1–6 offered no consolation to the frustrated visitors.

Kompany celebrated the spectacular performance from the bench. Afterward, he declined to give TV interviews or attend the press conference. “He’s been battling a virus all week, which has been plaguing him, and he’s been taking vitamins constantly,” said Eberl. “He’s really not feeling well. On top of that, he’s been having a problem with his hip.”

The players took the coach’s absence in stride. TV footage showed Kompany needing support as he walked up the stairs to the field at kickoff. Captain Joshua Kimmich joked on Sky about the footage: “He’s not exactly young anymore, is he?! That doesn’t look good, to be honest.”

Assistant coach takes the reins—“no big deal”

Harry Kane also noticed his coach’s “health issues.” “Maybe he was saving his voice after we’d pretty much got the game in the bag after about 50 or 60 minutes,” the star striker said with a wink.

The fact that Kompany didn’t give instructions himself but left that to his assistant coach Aaron Danks “wasn’t a huge problem either,” Eberl said. “He wasn’t coaching that actively. I think a lot of people noticed that. Aaron and the assistant coaches took over from there. But it also shows what a harmonious team we have around him—one that knows exactly what to do.”