Aaron Danks Prepares Bayern Munich for Freiburg Clash

Aaron Danks will lead Bayern Munich from the sidelines in Sunday's Bundesliga match against Freiburg. The club confirmed on Saturday that head coach Vincent Kompany remains in hospital after collapsing on the training pitch the previous day.

Director of Sport Max Eberl addressed reporters to describe Kompany's condition as stable. The 40-year-old is undergoing tests to identify the specific virus affecting him. Eberl stated that the absence will last for weeks rather than days, though no specific return date has been established.

"Vinnie will be given all the time he needs. We're not starting to put together any timeframes," Eberl said. He explained that the staff must first understand the medical issue before discussing a recovery timeline.

Danks, who served as Kompany's assistant, presided over the news conference in the head coach's place. He revealed that he spoke briefly with Kompany on Friday. The conversation focused on the manager's health rather than tactical matters.

"I explained to him that we wouldn't be having no football conversations. It was just checking in on his health and making sure he's OK," Danks said. He added that the coaching staff would operate as a unit to maintain the club's momentum.

The team has a one-point lead over Freiburg in the league standings entering Sunday's fixture. Eberl indicated that the club decided against requesting a postponement for the Bundesliga match. He believes a strong performance and a positive result would benefit Kompany's recovery.

Danks also confirmed that Germany captain Joshua Kimmich will miss the game. Kimmich has been on bereavement leave since Tuesday. Bayern Munich's next competitive match after Freiburg is against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on November 3.