Kompany misses Bayern training as virus leaves Arsenal availability uncertain

Vincent Kompany missed Bayern Munich's training session on Tuesday because of a virus, leaving assistant Aaron Danks to handle the team's media duties. The manager has been encouraged to rest, and his availability for Wednesday's Champions League match against Arsenal remained uncertain, according to reporting by the Guardian's David Hytner in Munich.

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Danks confirmed that the illness had caused pain in Kompany's legs but could not give a timetable for his return. He said Bayern were assessing the situation from day to day and that the manager should take whatever time he needed to recover. Danks did not know whether Kompany would be available the following day or would need another two or three days.

Kompany had already been unwell during Bayern's 6-1 Bundesliga victory at home to RB Leipzig on Saturday. Sporting director Max Eberl spoke to the media after that match in place of the manager. Tuesday's absence from training meant Danks also took responsibility for the press conference ahead of the Arsenal fixture at the Allianz Arena.

The Guardian noted reports in Germany linking the infection to an existing hip problem and describing Kompany resting on a sofa after the Leipzig game. Danks did not confirm those details. His account established that Kompany had experienced leg pain, while leaving medical explanations to the doctors. He also described encouraging the hard-working manager to rest as a challenge.

If Kompany cannot attend the Arsenal match, Danks will lead the team and expects to maintain contact with him. That would be another occasion on which the assistant has stepped in for Bayern's manager in the Champions League. Danks took charge during the first leg of last season's semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain while Kompany was suspended.

Bayern lost that match in Paris 5-4 and went out 6-5 on aggregate. Danks also has previous experience of temporary managerial responsibility from a brief spell in caretaker charge of Aston Villa in 2022, alongside coaching roles at Anderlecht and Middlesbrough. For now, Bayern's arrangement for Wednesday remains conditional on Kompany's recovery, with no confirmed decision on whether he will be in the dugout.