No more luxury for Kompany
©IMAGO
Without the ailing star striker Harry Kane (32), FC Bayern is in the dress rehearsal for the Champions League clash against Real Madrid. “He won’t be available tomorrow,” said Munich coach Vincent Kompany before the Bundesliga guest game against SC Freiburg on Saturday (3:30 p.m./Sky) about the English international player, who has an ankle problem. Serge Gnabry (30) could replace Kane in the center of the attack.
The Bayern coach is “positive about Tuesday” with the captain of the Three Lions. Then the Munich team will play their quarter-final first leg (9 p.m.) in the premier class against the Spanish. Kane was missing from the England squad as planned during the international break in the test against Uruguay (1-1) and then had to miss the game against Japan (0-1) at short notice.
Manuel Neuer, on the other hand, returns to Bayern. The now 40-year-old had been missing since suffering a small muscle fiber tear in his left calf in the Bundesliga against Borussia Mönchengladbach (4-1) at the beginning of March. “Manu is 100 percent fit,” assured Kompany. Deputy Jonas Urbig (22), who had to leave the German national team due to a minor knee capsule injury, is also available to FC Bayern again.
FC Bayern: Coach Kompany no longer has any “luxury”.
In addition, Jamal Musiala (23, pain reaction on the operated left foot), Alphonso Davies (25, strain of the hamstring muscles in the right leg) and Aleksandar Pavlovic (21, hip problems) are again alternatives for Kompany. “As far as the minutes are concerned and who can start 100%, we’ll see,” Kompany said cautiously at the press conference.
The Bayern coach described offensive star Musiala and full-back Davies as “real options.” However, whether they could play three games in a week or even over 90 minutes is a different question. “But we no longer have the luxury of being able to choose a lot,” emphasized Kompany. “We have to win. Every player has to reach their best level and deliver the maximum.”
