Munich (dpa) – After the unsuccessful start to the big World Cup year, Manuel Neuer quickly tried to look ahead.
In the hospital bed, the captain of FC Bayern Munich and the national soccer team announced the “imminent rehabilitation training” after the “superb” operation. At least at the start of the knockout round of the Champions League at RB Salzburg next week, the 35-year-old keeper, who had to pause at the beginning of the year due to an infection with the corona virus, will be absent. The second leg on March 8th against Austria’s series champions is probably too early for Neuer.
Neuer will be out for several weeks
Of course, how long Neuer will be out after the surprising and unspecified operation on his right knee depends on the healing process. The German series champion spoke vaguely of an abstinence in the “coming weeks”. That should be in the four to six week range. Speculations about an intervention on the meniscus were not confirmed. Most recently, Neuer had repeatedly trained individually. Now the decision for an operation was made.
With the proven Neuer representative Sven Ulreich in goal, Munich hope to come through comparatively safe weeks unscathed. In the league, where the lead at the top of the table has increased to a reassuring nine points after Dortmund’s 2-5 slip against Bayer Leverkusen, the next tasks are Bochum (A), Fürth (H), Frankfurt (A) and Leverkusen (H).
In the premier class, the offensively powerful Munich team should also make it into the quarter-finals with Ulreich in goal against Salzburg, who made it into the cup semi-finals with a 3-1 win against Linz in their first game after the winter break. At the latest, Neuer should be on 5./6. and 12./13. April back in top form in the Munich goal.
“From my point of view, it will be an important success factor that we have the entire squad together in the decisive phase in spring. That never works 100 percent, but maybe we’ll come close,” said Neuer’s substitute captain Thomas Müller at the start explained the “tingly” February. The absence of Neuer hits Munich and coach Julian Nagelsmann quite sensitively.
Ullreich a proven new replacement
Ulreich, who represented Neuer for a long time during the 2017/18 season when he broke his metatarsal, has only made two appearances this season. The 33-year-old was not tested in the 12-0 win against Bremer SV in the first round of the DFB Cup. At the 1: 2 at the start of the second half of the season against Borussia Mönchengladbach, he was not convincing.
Thanks to convincing performances during Neuer’s long absence before the 2018 World Cup, Ulreich even made it into the extended circle of the national team. On the other hand, the long-time Stuttgart keeper blundered in the biggest game of his career in the semi-final against Real Madrid in May 2018.
Ulreich’s contract expires at the end of the season. With good performances, he could recommend the veteran as a reserve keeper for another year. The third goalkeeper in Munich’s professional squad is Christian Früchtl (22). The new crown prince Alexander Nübel (25), who was committed in summer 2020, is on loan to AS Monaco until 2023. The ex-Schalke player could now have had his chance of probation.
The calculus of those responsible for Bayern when planning for the future with Neuer will hardly affect his knee injury. Most recently, both coach Julian Nagelsmann and CEO Oliver Kahn had stated that Neuer could still play at world-class level for a few more years. The current contract expires on June 30, 2023. There had been repeated speculation about an approaching extension to 2025.
National coach Hansi Flick should not worry about the intervention at Neuer, especially since the first international matches of the World Cup year are test matches and are not due until the end of March. The DFB selection will play Israel in Sinsheim on March 26, three days later the prestige duel with the Netherlands in Amsterdam. Neuer could then celebrate a comeback in this phase twice: On March 27, he will be 36 years old.