Vincent Kompany’s impact as coach is a significant factor in Bayern Munich‘s advancement to the Champions League semifinals, but the team will have to navigate forward without him.
Bayern is gearing up for what could be their most challenging match of the season against Paris Saint-Germain, as their head coach is suspended and assistant Aaron Danks steps in. Danks, who is respected in the coaching community, has only led two games as head coach in the Premier League.
“Danksy has a wealth of experience and has been on the touchline in England for some time,” Kompany stated. “I have complete confidence in the staff and everyone else.”
Before Bayern’s trip to Paris, Kompany participated in training on Monday, but he will be prohibited from accessing the locker room and bench at Parc des Princes on Tuesday.
Kompany dismissed any ideas of employing a tactic similar to that of José Mourinho, who famously concealed himself in a laundry basket to sneak into the locker room during a suspension while managing Chelsea.
“At 1.92 meters (6-foot-3), I can’t fit into a washing basket,” he remarked.
Harry Kane believes the team will miss Kompany’s presence on the sidelines. “We’ll feel his absence. He’s our leader, a coach who would love to be there with us,” the striker, who is in discussions to extend his contract with Bayern, expressed.
The situation arose after Kompany received a booking during Bayern’s thrilling quarterfinal victory over Real Madrid for contesting the referee’s decision to allow play to continue after a heavy tackle on Bayern defender Josip Stanisic.
This was Kompany’s third yellow card in Bayern’s 12 Champions League matches this season. He argued that UEFA should consider easing the rules, given the increased number of games this season.
“It’s an extended format, with the strictest rules ever, and a lot of interpretation involved from referees, which can lead to incorrect yellow cards. So what’s the outcome in such cases?” Kompany commented after the match.
“I’m not pleased about this, but it’s not crucial. The team is capable of performing well, and I’ll be there for the return leg. I have complete faith in the team and the staff to not only sustain their performance but also find strength and motivation from this situation.”
PSG coach Luis Enrique commended Kompany’s contributions since his arrival two years ago. “Vincent Kompany is a top-level coach, and Bayern is one of the most enjoyable teams to watch. Their style is appealing, and I admire all coaches, particularly those who focus on attacking play, and he unquestionably fits that mold.”
Danks serves as one of Kompany’s three main assistants. The 42-year-old English coach is recognized for his expertise in set pieces and previously managed two matches for Aston Villa as caretaker in 2022, achieving a 4-0 victory over Brentford before a 4-0 defeat to Newcastle.
Preparation for the match has also been challenging for Munich.
Having already secured the Bundesliga title, Bayern intended to rest key players during a recent match against Mainz. However, after trailing 3-0, Kompany had to reintroduce Kane, Michael Olise, and Jamal Musiala, leading to a comeback victory of 4-3.
Musiala will face PSG for the first time since he suffered a severe leg fracture during last season’s Club World Cup against the French side. Having returned in January, he has recently regained form, contributing two goals and four assists in his last five outings, including an assist for Luis Díaz‘s vital third goal in the second leg against Madrid.
Lennart Karl, who stepped up during Musiala’s injury, is likely to miss Tuesday’s match due to a muscle injury that has kept him sidelined for three weeks. Additionally, forward Serge Gnabry is also out due to a muscle tear, ruling him out of World Cup contention as well.
The Champions League remains a crucial part of Bayern’s pursuit of a treble, with an even rarer double-treble achievement within reach.
Bayern’s women have already clinched the German league, are set to compete in the final of the German Cup, and are currently level at 1-1 with Barcelona in the semifinals of the Women’s Champions League.
This report includes information from The Associated Press.