This is one of those moments when football knows exactly where it belongs: in the background. Vincent Kompany has made that perfectly clear, saying Joshua Kimmich should take all the time he needs after the death of his father. The message is simple, and it is the right one. Bayern Munich can sort out the football side later. Right now, the club's priority is the man, not the midfielder.
Speaking to DAZN, Kompany did not dress the situation up or try to turn it into some grand dressing-room sermon. He was direct about what matters. "Of course, what has happened with Joshua Kimmich and his family is unfortunate. Our priority now is to make sure he feels comfortable and can be with his children, his wife and his family." That is the kind of response supporters should want to hear from a manager: humane, uncomplicated, and free of the usual noise.
Football can wait
Kimmich is not some peripheral squad member Bayern can quietly work around without consequence. He is a central figure for Bayern Munich, and that is exactly why his absence would create sporting challenges. But this is also why Kompany's stance matters. It would have been easy to lean into the routine language of availability, selection and recovery. Instead, Bayern have put the human reality first. That should not be unusual, but in modern football it often feels like a statement.
There is no need to overcomplicate it. Kimmich has suffered a family bereavement, and Bayern are making it plain that football is secondary. That is the only sensible position, even if the team will inevitably feel the impact on the pitch. The wider message is just as important: a club can be ambitious, demanding and relentlessly professional without pretending the rest of life stops for a fixture list.
It also fits the broader tone around Kompany's Bayern, where mentality and standards have already been a live subject. Whether it is about the demands of the calendar, the pressure of the next test or the expectations around this squad, the manager has been clear that the club must carry itself properly. In this case, that means giving Kimmich space, dignity and time rather than trying to force football into the conversation before he is ready. For more on Kompany's mentality message, see his comments ahead of the Viking clash, and the buildup to Bayern's awkward meeting with SC Elversberg and the early-season test against Wehen Wiesbaden.
Ultimately, this should not be treated as a football story with a sentimental edge. It is a family story with football attached to it. Kompany has handled it that way, and Bayern should be applauded for making the right call. The table, the tactics and the schedule can all wait. What matters now is Joshua Kimmich, his family, and giving them the space they need.
