The collapse of Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany is also affecting Freiburg coach Julian Schuster. “You take that with you and think about it, and of course it was also an issue with us in the coaching team and also at home,” said Schuster after the 1:3 in the Bundesliga against Munich. “We coaches are not always very good at taking care of ourselves because of course you also have that responsibility.”
Kompany collapsed on Friday while watching the Bayern amateurs training after the professionals' final training for the Freiburg game. The emergency doctor had to be alerted. It is unclear whether the collapse was a direct result of an infection. It is also unclear when Kompany will return. For now, assistant coach Aaron Danks will replace the head coach on the sidelines.
“I hope that he finds peace for himself and gives himself the time,” said the 41-year-old shoemaker, who gave the Munich team a package (“little thing”) wrapped in SC Freiburg wrapping paper for his colleague, who is one year younger. The Kompany case could offer “a certain opportunity” to bring the issue of health of head coaches more into focus. “It is we ourselves who have to allow this,” said Schuster.
"For me it is also the case that to this day I have not had a day off, because of course we want to function, we want to be there. For our team, for our coaching team, for the staff. And then it is a task that keeps you busy around the clock," explained the SC coach, who has been in office since summer 2024.
There are phases in the football calendar without a day off for weeks - and therefore hardly any moments to switch off: "That's our daily bread. And that's why we rarely give ourselves the time, even if we have something else, to cure it accordingly. Because you yourself also have this claim of wanting to be there, of wanting to help."
As with Kompany, who is also a father, “things continue at home,” said Schuster. “And if you have the privilege of being able to play every three or four days, then you are always in a window where you are in an emotional state after a game.” This has to be processed, and at the same time the next task is already waiting, in which “you are trapped again”.
For the Freiburg team, who like Munich are also represented in the European Cup, one English week follows the next. Between October 11th and November 8th, the sports club has nine competitive games. The DFB Cup against second division team VfL Wolfsburg continues on Wednesday, followed by the Bundesliga game at FC Augsburg on Saturday.
Jonas Urbig knows the tight schedule of appointments all too well. After the win in Freiburg, the Bayern goalkeeper emphasized the importance of the game. “Togetherness would be the headline,” explained the 23-year-old. “It was clear to everyone that this game was the end of a very, very difficult week, physically but also mentally,” explained Urbig, who saved Munich from making it 2-2 in the final phase.
The victory was worth much more than three points, “because it is simply a great achievement after what we have experienced or had to experience all week,” said sports director Max Eberl. In Freiburg, Bayern not only had to do without head coach Kompany, but also a number of star players such as regular goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic and offensive player Luis Diaz. Joshua Kimmich was also missing from his immediate family following a bereavement.
"The victory is for Vinnie, the victory is for Jo, for his family. The victory is for Lucho. The victory is for FC Bayern and for this togetherness that we simply need now," emphasized Eberl.
The team played for Kompany and Kimmich, Urbig confirmed, adding: "We played for our ailing players, who unfortunately couldn't be there today. And I think the way we coped with that this week as a team, as a club, is really extraordinary."
About Kompany, Urbig said: "We just hope that he comes back quickly, but also takes the time because we need him. That's very clear. But I think the way we dealt with it together today will certainly make him proud."
National goalkeeper Urbig himself received high praise from Eberl: “Jonas, we always said, this is someone you can throw in, he stands up and he performs,” said the sports boss. “He made some really good saves,” Danks added.
