Bayern backs 16 year-old 'keeper Prescott
Vincent Kompany says Bayern Munich has "full confidence" in 16 year-old goalkeeper Leonard Prescott if he needs to start its Champions League last-16 second leg against Atalanta.
Bayern holds a comfortable 6-1 lead over Atalanta from the first leg, but are enduring a goalkeeping crisis.
The Bundesliga leader announced that Sven Ulreich had sustained an injury against Bayer Leverkusen, with Manuel Neuer already on the sidelines.
Jonas Urbig is a potential option, but he suffered a concussion in the first leg against Atalanta, and it is currently unclear if he will be deemed fit in time for Wednesday's match.
As such, Kompany may have to rely on Prescott, who had to get special clearance to work in the evening due to his age, but he is not scared of having to hand the teenager his debut.
"Jonas trained normally today. The decision tomorrow will be a medical one," Kompany said. "If everything goes well, then Urbig will be in goal. If not, then we will have to find another solution.
"He [Prescott] is very calm. Overall, we as a staff are also calm. If he plays, he will have our full backing.
"Everyone will help. There will never be a young player who will be forced to play a main role. We have full confidence in him, whatever happens."
Bayern has won eight of its nine Champions League games this season, scoring 28 goals in the process (3.1 per game). The only exception was a 3-1 loss at Arsenal in November.
"I know that never has a team managed to come back after such a result," Kompany said. "But a second leg is always more difficult, especially as a coach. You realise how important it is to stay focused. The first leg is over. This is a club that never wants to lose.
"And the biggest guarantee for a good performance is that I'm sure the players know that. It's much better to go into the international break with two wins. And we're prepared to sacrifice a lot to achieve that."
