Bayern's biggest challenge at PSG could be Kompany suspension
Bayern Munich's coach Vincent Kompany and his assistant Aaron Danks watch over a training session ahead of Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League soccer match against Paris Saint-Germain. Sven Hoppe/dpa Bayern Munich must take the next step towards the Champions League title without their suspended coach Vincent Kompany on Tuesday, with his English assistant Aaron Danks set to be in charge for their first leg semi-final at Paris Saint-Germain. Danks, 42, is one of three assistants and normally in charge of set pieces.
He will now be in charge at the Parc des Princes after Kompany picked up a third yellow card in the recent quarter-final victory over Real Madrid. Kompany conducted the final training in Munich on Monday but it was also observed that Danks exchanged high-fived with several Bayern stars. Bayern board member for sport Max Eberl voiced full support for Danks before the team's flight to France.
"Aaron is a really smart guy off the pitch. He’s just as passionate about football as Vinnie," Eberl said. How much the absence of the big motivator Kompany, who is denied any contact with the team once they reach the stadium, will hurt Bayern remains to be seen as striker Harry Kane saw both sides of the spectrum.
"It's down to us to perform on the pitch," the England captain said, expecting no major impact and adding that team leaders will have an additional role on the pitch to push the others. But he also admitted: "We'll miss him on the touchline. He's our boss, a coach who'd love to be out there with us.
" Sporting director Christoph Freund said that "we will rise to this challenge and, as a team, we will manage it and get through it. " On the players' side, Serge Gnabry and Raphaël Guerreiro are out and Lennart Karl and Tom Bischof not quite ready to return from injuries. Bayern beat title holders PSG 2-1 in Paris in the league stage in autumn, with Luis Diaz scoring both goals before being sent off.