The serious injury and the month-long absence of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer put FC Bayern in a precarious situation. Internally, there are already discussions about how best to react to the new and completely unexpected situation. An early return by Alexander Nübel is said to be an option – but this also brings with it other problems.
Heads have been smoking on Säbener Straße since the weekend. Hasan Salihamidzic, Julian Nagelsmann and Co. are forced to act after the injury of first-choice goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and have to decide who should be between the posts for the rest of the season.
According to “Bild”, an early return of Alexander Nübel is already being discussed internally. The 26-year-old is currently still on loan at AS Monaco and, after initial problems, has long since blossomed into a top performer. However, there are two problems with regard to the former Schalke player.
On the one hand, Nübel’s loan contract runs until the end of the 2022/23 season. FC Bayern would have to convince the club from the Principality to end the deal early. It’s hard to imagine Monaco getting involved without further ado, after all, Nübel has been on the pitch in all of the club’s competitive games from the start this season.
There is still a lot at stake for the French first division team this season. In the league, Monaco is very close to the European places, in the Europa League in mid-February they play Bayer Leverkusen for a place in the round of 16.
Nübel wants to be number one in FC Bayern
Should Nübel still return early to Munich, there is a risk of further friction here, because the ex-Schalke player no longer wants to go back to the second rank, according to “Bild”. Should he guard the goal of the record champions for the rest of the 2022/23 season, he also wants to be between the posts in the 2023/24 season. But Manuel Neuer doesn’t play along with that.
Despite his serious injury, the national goalkeeper is not thinking of retiring. According to “Bild”, the 36-year-old has a clear timetable that envisages participation in the 2024 European Championship. He therefore does not want to vacate his place for Nübel in Munich.
Will Ulreich get his chance at Bayern?
The much “simpler” variant would be for FC Bayern to promote substitute keeper Sven Ulreich. The 34-year-old has represented Manuel Neuer several times and has shown that he is a good goalkeeper.
Whether those responsible also trust him to become the decisive man in the important games in the Champions League, among other things, is a question that Salihamidzic, Nagelsmann and Co. now have to answer faster than they would like.