Kompany says Urbig, Bayern’s third-choice keeper, will make his Bundesliga debut

Coach Vincent Kompany said ahead of VfL Bochum’s visit that Jonas Urbig, the third-choice goalkeeper for Bayern Munich, will make his Bundesliga debut on Saturday due to injuries to Manuel Neuer and Daniel Peretz.

While celebrating a goal in Wednesday’s 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League’s round of 16, Neuer tore his calf muscle. Urbig, who made his Bayern debut at age 21, took his position.

In January, backup goalie Peretz had a kidney contusion during practice, and he is still out.

“We don’t know, it might take longer, but I think Manuel will need some time to heal before the international break. We are happy that there will be a break soon. That should be beneficial to us,” Kompany told reporters on Friday.

“I don’t want to overburden Jonas with work. He has performed flawlessly in both training and the game thus far. That ought to boost his self-esteem because he is talented and trustworthy.

Following loan stints at Greuther Fuerth and Jahn Regensburg, Urbig, a former Cologne player, signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Bayern in January.

While Bochum, in 16th position, is now in the relegation playoff spot, Bayern leads the Bundesliga by eight points. However, Kompany claimed that Bayern’s difficulty was exacerbated by a packed schedule, as the squad will play its third game in as many weeks.

“We want to play each game feeling new. Rotation and freshness are key,” he explained, “so it’s not a choice but a necessity.

According to Kompany, who saw his Burnley team relegated from the Premier League the previous season, he did not undervalue Bochum.

“I was in a relegation battle last season, I know how a club in a relegation battle experiences preparation in a week like this,” he explained.

“As a little team, you don’t enter a game to see how fantastic Bayern might be. Every corner, every duel, and every ball are your main concerns.

“I am aware that when you enter these games with the expectation that everything will turn out, they are the riskiest. Ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League return leg against Leverkusen, he continued, “We are only interested in tomorrow and that is our current focus.”