The violation of Manuel Neuer in the Champions League game against Leverkusen was a shock for Bayern. Nevertheless, coach Vincent Kompany had to smile briefly.
It was a small drop of bitterness on an otherwise intoxicating evening for FC Bayern. In the 3-0 backlog against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League round of 16, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer injured had to be replaced. After the 2-0 goal by Jamal Musiala (54th minute), the cameras suddenly showed the 38-year-old sitting on the sidelines. He could be treated on the right leg.
Four minutes later, Neuer got up, but immediately found that it would not go on for him. Jonas Urbig, who only hired him in the goal in January 1. FC Köln, replaced him in the goal and thus celebrated his Bayern debut in the premier class.
After the game, Bayern coach Vincent Kompany answered questions at the DAZN microphone. It was asked whether there was already a diagnosis in the event of a new one.
“No,” Kompany only replied and then suddenly broke out into a short laugh. The reason: Neuer had obviously injured a little clumsily with the jubilation about the Musiala goal. In fact: A repetition showed how Neuer took a quick step forward after the goal and apparently represented itself. Neuer immediately stopped his indicated jubilee and raised his arm towards the sidelines. A fact that obviously amused the soberly company.
“It’s a shame for us,” Kompany quickly became serious. “But we have always talked about the squad. “It will stay that way. If it is Urbig, it is Urbig and we won’t worry,” he said his substitute goalkeeper.
Bayern sports director Max Eberl revealed after the game that the injury is probably a muscular problem. “The diagnosis is still pending,” he said. “It is something muscular. But I can’t say now, if it is a fiber tear, it is a strain, it is a hardening. I can’t say that in conclusion.”
Eberl presented himself all the happier about the Urbig transfer in winter. In the absence of the still injured Daniel Peretz and Sven Ulreich, who was recently missing for personal reasons, the obligation now turned out to be the right one.
“Regardless of the game today, we are very happy that Jonas came to us, but of course the situation today showed that it was necessary,” said Eberl about the transfer. Peretz was not yet fitting and Ulreich has not played a game for a long time.
Eberl praised Urbig for his appearance after the sudden substitution: “Of course, he comes into such a champions League game and has now made no game for three months, for four months,” he explained the situation of the goalkeeper. “Then you have to come in there first and know very well: Now everyone is looking. I think he – without having to make a big parade now – worked very strongly, very stable with the ball on the foot,” continued Eberl. “It worked as if he doesn’t mind much. I have not yet asked how he felt, but it worked as if he came in and says: I stand here and play my game.”