Bayern confirm Kompany out for 'weeks' after training ground collapse

Bayern Munich expect Vincent Kompany to be sidelined for weeks rather than days after he collapsed at the club's training ground on Friday, with the head coach remaining in a stable condition in hospital.

Kompany fell ill during a session with Bayern's Under-23 squad, according to Metro Football, having struggled through a viral infection for much of the week.

Despite the illness, the former Manchester City and Belgium captain had still taken his place on the touchline for Wednesday's Champions League draw with Arsenal, which finished 2-2.

Sporting director Max Eberl addressed the collapse at a press conference on Saturday, ahead of Sunday's Bundesliga fixture at Freiburg, and declined to set a firm timetable for Kompany's return, as reported by Independent Sport.

"We're not starting to put together any timeframes," Eberl said, before adding: "We won't be talking about days, but weeks. We need to all be clear on that."

Eberl gave a fuller account of the incident to reporters, as relayed by Metro Football, describing it as "a difficult moment for all of us."

"So the good news is that he is stable," Eberl said. "He collapsed on the pitch yesterday and is now in hospital, where he will remain for a few more days while they establish exactly what happened, carry out all the examinations, and everything has been checked."

He went on to reflect on the wider significance of the episode, saying: "It just goes to show once again that football isn't the most important thing in life, perhaps the second or third most important thing. The most important thing is your health."

Eberl added that the club was sending Kompany its best wishes and would stand together through the difficult period, according to Metro Football.

Assistant coach Aaron Danks, who is English, will take interim charge of the Bundesliga trip to Freiburg, a point confirmed by both Guardian European football, via Agence France-Presse, and Independent Sport.

Danks said he had spoken to Kompany since the collapse but had deliberately kept the conversation away from football matters.

"I explained to him that we wouldn't be having no football conversations," Danks said. "It was just checking in on his health and making sure he's OK."

He added: "All the football operations are in our hands and we'll work together as a team to keep the club moving forward."

Kompany, 40, had admitted following the draw with Arsenal that he had not listened to his body by continuing to work rather than taking time off, Independent Sport reported.

Examinations are continuing to establish the exact cause of the collapse, with Bayern yet to confirm a date for Kompany's return as Danks oversees preparations for Sunday's match against Freiburg.