analysis
It was a Champions League evening to forget for FC Bayern, but especially for Manuel Neuer. His mistakes reduce calls for him to return to the DFB team to absurdity.
If it wasn’t Manuel Neuer, many would now say that the fuss surrounding him in advance was too much. In the days before the Champions League clash at Arsenal FC, sports director Max Eberl had crowned the discussions about whether the FC Bayern Munich goalkeeper should return to the goal of the German national team. In an interview with “Sport Bild”, Eberl clearly answered the question of whether Neuer should go to the 2026 World Cup with: “Yes!”
New guy back to the DFB? Eberl versus Nagelsmann
And he emphasized this statement again. “He is the best goalkeeper in Germany. We are incredibly happy that we have extended his contract with him and that he is healthy. The holidays help him when there are international breaks. But: he is really on fire.”said Eberl. Neuer also confirmed these early praises in London in some phases, but overall it was a performance that rather proves Julian Nagelsmann right, who wants to stick with his current goalkeepers.
“We haven’t lost any of the last ten games because we had a bad goalkeeper. Accordingly, the discussion is not beneficial – not even for Manu, who needs rest for his good performances at Bayern Munich. As far as I know, Manu has resigned, I’m surprised that we still discuss it every week.”said the national coach in October.
Even before that Arsenal cracker the Bayern keeper made a mistake
Eberl obviously didn’t have the impression that his number one needed rest, perhaps he wanted to give him an additional incentive so that he could show everyone in the Champions League summit that he is still the ultimate goalkeeper. However, with two mistakes that led to goals conceded in the 3-1 defeat in London, Neuer played a large part in his team’s first defeat of the season.
In the previous weeks, Neuer hadn’t looked good when conceding a few goals. Against Freiburg (6:2) he jumped up much too early after an opponent’s header and therefore couldn’t get to the ball. Previously at Union Berlin (2:2), the goalkeeper had let a harmless shot slip under his body, and this goal also came after a corner. Neuer had made a mistake in each of the last two Bundesliga games, and two Arsenal goals in London were his fault.
It can’t be the pressure for Neuer
After Jurrien Timber made it 0-1, the Munich captain made a clear gesture, tapping his chest with both index fingers and accepting responsibility after he couldn’t reach Saka’s corner and was simply too late. This was also the case at 1:3, when Neuer wanted too much, rushed over 40 meters out of his goal and Gabriel Martinelli let him run into space. “When you’re behind, you have to take more risks”said Neuer afterwards.
Can’t get to the ball after a corner – Manuel Neuer (in pink)
To think that this is due to the hustle and bustle surrounding him would certainly be wrong. Neuer is 39 years old, he has won almost everything in his career, no longer has to prove anything to anyone and has not said a word that he wants to return to the DFB team. And he’s also used to people talking about him; he’s experienced much greater pressure situations and shown that they don’t influence him at all.
Discussion unfair to Oliver Baumann?
Neuer is in an unfortunate phase in which he made several mistakes. The question is not whether it influences him when people talk about his national team comeback, but rather whether this discussion does justice to the current national goalkeepers. Oliver Baumann has grown into the DFB jersey and has always impressed in recent games. That Nagelsmann talks about it “no goalkeeping problem” There is no need to protect your player, but rather a fact.
October 14, 2024: First game for the national team. In the Nations League against the Netherlands, Baumann finally gets the chance to show off for the national team. Germany wins 1-0 in Munich and Baumann keeps a clean sheet.
Neuer has class, which was also evident against Arsenal. Before the goal to make it 1-2, the goalkeeper had saved his team several times with strong saves. However, the time when the five-time world champion (last time in 2020) outshone all of his position colleagues is over. And so it also happens that the style of play with which Neuer became famous in the 2014 World Cup round of 16 against Algeria (2-1) sometimes goes wrong.
Ballack with clear criticism of the Neuer excursion
Michael Ballack spoke about this clearly on “DAZN”, “That wasn’t necessary”he said about Neuer’s trip at 1:3.
In hindsight, you could also say that about the call for his DFB comeback, but given the mistakes, you would be in a comfortable position to make that statement. But the fact remains that the current national goalkeepers do not provide any arguments to doubt them. Baumann and Co. should still be helped by the fact that Neuer followed big words with big mistakes.