Vincent Kompany in doubt for Bayern-Arsenal clash due to viral infection

Bayern Munich's bench could be missing a key figure on Wednesday. Vincent Kompany is dealing with a viral infection that has affected his legs, and his presence for the Champions League match against Arsenal is now in doubt.

Assistant coach Aaron Danks stepped in for Kompany at the pre-match press conference, which already says plenty about the Belgian manager's condition. According to Danks, Kompany spent Tuesday at home and could need up to three more days before he's fully recovered.

It's affected his legs at times and he's felt some pain. It's just a virus. The doctors, the experts, know a lot more than I do. The most important thing we've stressed to him is to rest, to take whatever time he needs.Aaron Danks

Danks made clear there's still no certainty on when Kompany might return: "Whether that's tomorrow or whether that's two, three days, I don't know at this moment. Getting Vince to rest is a real challenge," the assistant admitted.

This isn't a new development. Something already seemed off on Saturday, when Kompany looked subdued and stayed seated throughout Bayern's 6-1 rout of Leipzig in the Bundesliga. That same day, sporting director Max Eberl had explained that the coach was dealing with both the virus and a hip injury, to the point that he needed help getting up stairs.

How would he coach from outside the stadium?

If Kompany ultimately can't be present on Wednesday, it wouldn't be the first time the club has had to manage without him on the touchline. Danks recalled that last season they already worked with remote communication, when Kompany was suspended for the first leg of the semifinals against Paris Saint-Germain, the match Bayern went on to lose 5-4.

The absences aren't limited to the coaching staff, either. Midfielder Joshua Kimmich was away on Tuesday for personal reasons, and Danks admitted he isn't yet sure whether that will affect Kimmich's availability for the match. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has returned to training, though he remains a doubt after missing the last two matches with a foot problem.

With so many pieces up in the air, Bayern head into their Champions League fixture with more question marks than usual. Fans will have to wait until matchday itself to find out who's really in charge from the sideline.