German Chancellor Angela Merkel has expressed her support for Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany, wishing him a swift recovery and stressing the importance of him taking all the time he needs to return without pressure.
In an interview with “Magenta TV”, Merkel said she was saddened by the news of the Bavarian coach’s condition, while expressing great respect for his work and his positions.
“At first I felt very sad when I heard this news. I wish him a speedy recovery and hope that he has the right conditions to take all the time he needs”, Merkel said.
The former German chancellor also praised the way Kompany carries out his profession, highlighting the coach’s stance against discrimination.
“I have great respect for the work that Vincent Kompany does, as well as for his clear positions against discrimination and for many other issues. I can imagine that, if I were a footballer, he would be exactly the coach I would want to work with”, she said.
Merkel also linked Kompany’s situation to a personal experience from 2019, when she began to visibly tremble during a military ceremony. She recalled that this reaction may have come as a result of accumulated tension, after the loss of her mother and at a time when she knew she was approaching her departure from the post of chancellor.
“Vincent Kompany most certainly did not choose to stay at home himself, but something happened that made his body finally say: Enough! The same thing happened to me too”, Merkel confessed.