Kompany on Urbig's debut against Leverkusen: "There are easier games"
Jonas Urbig, who joined Bayern Munich from FC Köln in January, was called upon to make his debut for the German record champions when Manuel Neuer went off injured in the second half of Wednesday's 3-0 Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen.
"There are easier games for a debut, of course," said Bayern coach Vincent Kompany at his post-match press conference, adding that Urbig has looked "very calm and confident" since moving to the Säbener Straße.
"I don't want to put any pressure on him now. We've always used the squad in every position. We have had moments without Kane, Musiala and even Kimmich. We've also played games without 'Manu' Neuer," he added.
Depending on the severity of the injury to Manuel Neuer, who injured his calf while celebrating, Urbig could feature once again against Bochum at the weekend.
'We have to continue to use the squad and everyone knows that. We're not going to change our approach and we know we have the talent in the squad to keep going.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
La Liga superstar reluctant to join Arsenal or Chelsea this summer
Arsenal have already all-but completed a deal to sign Martin Zubimendi, but he may not be the only La Liga player to make the move to north London this summer. They also have a strong interest in Nico Williams, but their chances of signing him during the transfer window looks to have reduced. Williams continues to be one of Athletic Club's star players, but because of this, he has attracted significant interest. Barcelona failed to sign him last summer, and 12 months, new names have entered the running – specifically, there has been interest shown from Arsenal, Chelsea and Bayern Munich. Nico Williams wants to stay in La Liga But the chances that any of those teams gets a deal done this summer are looking slim. As per Sport, Williams is reluctant to move outside of Spain, despite the fact that Arsenal and Chelsea would both be willing to activate the release clause in his Athletic contract. Imave via Marca / Ricardo Larreina Despite rejecting Barcelona last summer, Williams has an interest in joining the La Liga champions in 2025. But unfortunately for the Spain international, they are not considering him as an option at this stage, with Luis Diaz and Marcus Rashford being the club's primary left wing targets. Advertisement At this stage, the most likely scenario is that Williams signs a new contract with Athletic. His current deal expires in 2027, so there has been increased jeopardy about his future. But if Barcelona (or Real Madrid) do not come calling, there is a good chance that the 22-year-old extends his stay in Bilbao. Should he do this, Athletic would look to significantly increase the value of his release clause, which currently stands at €60m. If this happens, the chances of a future transfer would decrease by a considerable amount, considering that Los Leones very rarely negotiate the sales of their star players.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Dortmund agree £31m deal to sign Sunderland's Bellingham
Jobe Bellingham is yet to win his first cap for England's senior team [Getty Images] Borussia Dortmund have agreed a deal with Sunderland to sign Jobe Bellingham for an initial 32m euros (£26.96m) plus 5m euros (£4.2m) in add-ons. The 19-year-old midfielder had garnered interest from across Europe but it is Dortmund, former home of elder brother Jude, who are set to secure his signature. Advertisement Bellingham has played for Sunderland since 2023 and helped them secure Premier League promotion this past season, making 43 appearances for the Black Cats and scoring four goals across all competitions. The England youth international started his career at Birmingham City, coming through the academy before playing two years of senior football for the club. Borussia Dortmund experienced an inconsistent season in 2024-25 but had a strong finish to the campaign winning their final five matches to finish fourth and secure Champions League football for next season. If the deal is completed by 10 June, Bellingham would be able to play in the upcoming Club World Cup. Advertisement That tournament takes place in the United States from 14 June to 13 July. Bellingham has been named in the European Under-21 Championship, to be held in Slovakia from 11-28 June, but England boss Lee Carsley has said he will release players so they can compete in the Club World Cup. Mirroring his brother It is thought Bellingham is keen to follow in his brother's footsteps. Jude, two years Jobe's senior, also came through Birmingham City's academy before moving to Dortmund in 2020 and then Real Madrid in 2023. Bellingham is already mirroring his brother's career with the move to Dortmund and he was also named the Championship's Young Player of the Year in May, five years after Jude won the same award.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Most popular 2025 NBA Mock Draft picks for Nets at No. 8
The post Most popular 2025 NBA Mock Draft picks for Nets at No. 8 appeared first on ClutchPoints. With the 2025 NBA Draft less than three weeks away, there is little consensus among big boards and projections beyond the first few picks. As has been the case throughout Sean Marks' tenure, the Brooklyn Nets have kept their cards close to their vest. The No. 8 pick is the team's first lottery selection since Marks took over in 2016. Advertisement What players could Brooklyn select with its first choice? Let's take a look at the latest projections in a mock draft roundup: Analyzing Nets' picks at No. 8 in latest NBA mock drafts Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports ESPN: Kon Kneuppel, SG/SF, Duke Kneuppel's elite outside shooting and high feel for the game have caught the eyes of scouts over the last year. The Duke forward shot a scorching 40.6 percent from three as a freshman and flashed secondary shot-creation and playmaking alongside Cooper Flagg. While there are questions about whether his limited athleticism will hinder him as an NBA scorer and defender, he possesses a bankable skill as a movement shooter, along with a developing offensive repertoire, an impressive IQ and a high motor. Advertisement All of this should make him a safe pick in the top 10. The Nets met with Kneuppel at the combine, and he said he will travel to Brooklyn for a workout sometime before the draft. Bleacher Report, Yahoo Sports: Noa Essengue, PF, Ratiopharm Ulm Essengue has climbed inside the top 10 of several big boards while putting together one of his most productive stretches of the season overseas. The 6-foot-9 forward is the second-youngest player in the draft (three days older than Cooper Flagg) and has had no issues producing in Germany's top professional league. He posted a career-high 22 points and 14 rebounds on 8-of-16 shooting from the field, 2-of-5 from three and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line during Game 1 of the German playoff semifinals on Sunday. Essengue doesn't possess an elite skill at this point in his development. He's a subpar shooter (25.6 percent from three) and has an underdeveloped handle. However, the 18-year-old is a foul-drawing machine, attempting 7.4 free throws per 36 minutes and converting at a 72.2 percent clip. He's also shown a soft touch around the rim, shooting 63.8 percent on twos. His impressive measurables (6-foot-9 height, 6-foot-11 wingspan, 9-foot-3 standing reach) and fluid athleticism bode well for his defensive upside. Advertisement While his poor outside shooting and limited ball-handling cast doubts about whether he can develop into a self-creator at the next level, he could be a home-run choice if everything clicks. The Ringer: Jeremiah Fears, PG, Oklahoma Most mock drafts project Fears to be taken before the Nets' selection. If he falls to eighth, he'd be a player fans could quickly get behind. The 18-year-old is among the top scorers in the draft, averaging 17.1 points as one of college basketball's youngest players this season. Teams looking for a lead ball-handler who can generate consistent paint touches, like Brooklyn, will salivate over that part of his game. Fears' detractors will point to his inconsistent outside shot (28.4 percent), struggles finishing at the rim (52.6 percent) and high turnover rate (3.4 per game). His defensive shortcomings add to those concerns. However, the young floor general has sound shooting mechanics (85.1 percent on free throws) and was tasked with carrying an immense load for an otherwise poor Oklahoma offense. Advertisement Fears told ClutchPoints he had a 'great' meeting with the Nets and worked out for the team at the draft combine. If his poor outside shooting this season turns out to be an outlier, there's plenty to love about his dynamic skill set. ClutchPoints, Fox Sports: Egor Demin, PG/SF, BYU Demin is arguably the most talented passer in this year's draft and has great size (6-foot-9) as a lead ball-handler. He reads defensive coverages with ease, hitting rolling big men, weakside cutters and skip passes within the flow of the offense. However, his limited athleticism and poor shooting (27.3 percent from three) have raised questions about his ability to be an offensive engine at the next level. Advertisement While Demin showed flashes of self-creation at BYU, he consistently struggled to create separation against college defenders. A semi-consistent three-point shot — forcing defenders to work over the top of screens instead of sagging under — would go a long way toward letting his playmaking shine. While he plays with a high motor, his limited agility and vertical explosiveness also cast doubts over whether he can be a plus defender. Demin met with the Nets at the combine, reportedly impressing several teams with his maturity. He also shot the ball very well during his pro day in Chicago. If that area of his game comes around, he has star upside as a lead offensive initiator. If it doesn't, he'll end up looking like a reach as a top-10 selection. Related: 3 players Brooklyn Nets must avoid in 2025 NBA Draft Related: NBA rumors: Lakers' Austin Reaves trade strategy as 2 center targets emerge