FC Bayern had to do without Manuel Neuer again in the Bundesliga showdown against RB Leipzig. The 40-year-old remains sidelined due to foot problems and was once again replaced by Jonas Urbig. While the Bayern captain’s recent absences have raised questions about his physical condition and his future in goal for Munich, coach Vincent Kompany appears completely unfazed.

Ahead of Bayern’s 6-1 rout of Leipzig, the Belgian spoke to Sky about the current situation and gave the all-clear. “We’re not worried,” Kompany made clear.

He noted that it’s not unusual for Neuer to miss several games recently, given the tightly packed schedule. With matches every three days and frequent travel, two or three games can quickly add up, the Bayern coach explained.

Kompany makes it clear: Neuer remains the number one

Despite Neuer’s latest forced absence and recent mistakes, Kompany currently sees no reason to change the goalkeeping hierarchy at the German record champions.

Neuer remains the clear No. 1. At the same time, club officials are pursuing a long-term plan with Urbig, who is to be gradually introduced to a larger role.

The 23-year-old is therefore getting regular playing time and is able to gain valuable experience at the highest level.

Kompany emphasized that this development is no coincidence. Rather, the Munich club has deliberately created the current setup and clearly communicated the roles within the goalkeeping staff.

Neuer himself also plays a crucial role in this. The experienced captain supports the development of his young rival and, with his leadership qualities, contributes significantly to the positive atmosphere.

Urbig is benefiting from Bayern’s long-term plan

Goalkeeping coach Michael Rechner also received special praise. Together with his team, Rechner has played a decisive role in ensuring that Bayern is well-positioned in the goalkeeping position, both now and in the future.

For Kompany, the current situation is therefore by no means a problem, but rather the result of a deliberate decision. “We are now in a phase that we ourselves have chosen,” explained the 40-year-old.

While Neuer continues to enjoy his coach’s trust, Urbig can continue to develop through regular playing time.

However, it remains to be seen how quickly Neuer will return between the posts. The next major challenge for Munich awaits as early as this coming Wednesday with the Champions League match against Arsenal.

This article was translated into English by AI. You can read the original version here https://fcbinside.de/2026/10/18/neuer-oder-urbig-kompany-spricht-machtwort-im-bayern-tor/.