Bayern Munich vow to ease Vincent Kompany’s workload after health setback

Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl says the club will do more to protect Vincent Kompany from overworking himself after the manager suffered a health problem that is expected to keep him away from the team for several weeks.

Eberl was speaking at a news conference on Saturday, a day before Bayern’s Bundesliga meeting with Freiburg. Reports in Germany have suggested that Kompany’s habit of working long hours and getting little sleep may have contributed to his recent illness.

Asked whether Bayern should have intervened sooner to stop the Belgian from pushing himself too hard, Eberl said the club had already done as much as it could.

“Of course, people can try to find someone to blame, but the truth is that we protect our coach as much as possible,” he said.

“When a coach says he feels ready to do his job, we cannot know exactly how he is really feeling. We cannot simply tell him that we will not allow him to do it.”

Eberl added that Bayern had kept Kompany away from work for two days before their match against Arsenal because the manager had a virus.

“He recovered well and felt fine, and at that point it becomes difficult to tell him that he is not allowed to carry out his duties,” Eberl said.

Kompany wanted to take part in the match and, according to Eberl, appeared to be well enough to do so.

“He has his own opinion and he is entitled to express it. He wanted to be involved in the game, everything seemed fine and he felt well,” Eberl said.

“There is also a degree of personal responsibility in recognising the moment when you have to say: ‘I do not want to continue this, I am no longer able to carry on.’

“I think Vinnie is an exceptional person and incredibly hard-working. Perhaps our society has lost something in that respect, but there are still people like him who simply say: ‘I want to get things done, I want to work.’”

‘The body will eventually shout’

Eberl referred to the importance of recognising early warning signs from the body.

“There is also a great saying: if you do not listen to the weakest signals your body sends you, then eventually your body will shout,” he said.

“Unfortunately, that is what happened, and we all have to respect it.”

The Bayern sporting director said everyone involved should be given the time needed to deal with the situation. He added that the club would answer the questions it could and explain anything unclear as far as possible.

“Vinnie will get the time he needs, and we will make greater efforts than before to protect him from himself, if you like,” Eberl said.

He believes the best way Bayern can support Kompany at present is by performing well and securing a positive result against Freiburg in the Bundesliga on 25 October 2026.