National goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has been struggling with his foot injury for almost ten months. His former teammate Robert Lewandowski explains why he believes in his comeback.
The long-awaited comeback of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in the FC Bayern goal is getting closer. From a distance, an old teammate keeps his fingers crossed.
“I spoke to Manuel immediately after his injury. It was clear to me that such an injury takes time,” Lewandowski told Sport Bild. The Polish international is convinced that the keeper’s mindset will help with his return. “But Manu has the firm will to prove it to everyone again. He wants to be his old self again – and I trust him to achieve that with his ambition. It’s not easy after such a long break, but I want it Manuel.”
New statements from Bayern bosses fuel hopes of an early comeback. Sports director Christoph Freund explained on “Amazon Prime” on Tuesday evening on the sidelines of the Champions League game against FC Copenhagen that a return after the international break was possible.
Bayern’s sports director would “not rule out” goalkeeper Manuel Neuer being back in head coach Thomas Tuchel’s squad on the next matchday of the Champions League. On October 24th, the German record champions will host the Turkish representatives Galatasaray. Three days earlier, Bayern face FSV Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga.
Manuel Neuer is training with the team again
“It’s looking good for Manu,” said the Austrian. Neuer has already “trained with the team two or three times and hasn’t had any problems, but we’re all careful.” Last Thursday, the goalkeeper was able to train with his Bayern colleagues again for the first time. After the long rehabilitation phase surrounding the broken tibia and fibula, he was recently plagued by calf problems.
Head coach Thomas Tuchel also commented on the possible return of his goalkeeper. After the game in Copenhagen, the 50-year-old explained that Neuer had already made a very good impression in training.
“It looked very good recently,” he confirmed after the game: “I was very impressed by the last few sessions, by his aura and quality, it looked very good. But I don’t want to put a backpack on him and make predictions that I has to take it back. Manu decides that himself in the end.”