Daniel Peretz will make his debut in the FC Bayern goal in the DFB Cup game against Preußen Münster. Will he be Manuel Neuer’s successor?
So now it’s the end of September. The DFB Cup game against Preußen Münster (Preußen Münster against FC Bayern Munich on Tuesday, September 26th, at 8:45 p.m. live in the radio report) was once considered the ideal time to celebrate the return of Manuel Neuer. But since Manuel Neuer created spectacular images and a “euphoric” Thomas Tuchel with flying parades on Säbener Straße in May, the FC Bayern goalkeeper’s record of setbacks has become thicker and thicker.
The latest entry: According to the plan, Neuer should have trained with the team again this week. But instead of announcing Neuer’s return, his coach had to announce the next setback: “The injury is actually not really an injury. It’s more complaints. That’s what I would call it. Calf complaints,” explained Thomas Tuchel. Neuer broke his lower leg in December and has been struggling with pain ever since. Now it’s calf problems “that are very diffuse, that come and go sometimes. They’re just there and are annoying,” said Tuchel.
Dreesen and Tuchel praise FC Bayern debutant Peretz
And so it happens that it is not Neuer who is celebrating his comeback at Preußen Münster, but someone else who is making his debut: Daniel Peretz, 23, new signing from Maccabi Haifa, is in goal for FCB for the first time. He will play his first minutes in an FC Bayern uniform at the DFB Cup opener. How many more will be added is currently more than uncertain.
To understand what role Peretz currently holds at FC Bayern and how it will develop, you have to read between the lines. CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen described the 23-year-old as a “perspective for the future” at his presentation. “He has a lot of potential. I’m sure we can plan some of the future with Daniel,” said Dreesen. And Tuchel also used surprisingly similar words when announcing Peretz’s debut: “He has a lot of potential, was brought in with great hopes for the future” – and avoided a comparison with the actual number one in the FC Bayern goal.
Alexander Nübel: False promises and failed plans
The word “new successor” seems to be on the blacklist in Munich at the moment. This idiom has been skillfully avoided for some time. Because a new successor had already been chosen. Alexander Nübel was the man who was supposed to inherit Neuer at some point. Three years ago he moved from FC Schalke to the FC Bayern bench as captain, was loaned out to AS Monaco for two years and now to Stuttgart.
Although he still has one year left on his contract in Munich and is doing very well in Stuttgart, it currently seems unthinkable that the 26-year-old will guard the FC Bayern goal again. The relationship between the parties is difficult. Probably also because the then sports director Hasan Salihamidzic Nübel made promises before signing the contract that he was never able to keep – that he would be groomed as the new successor.
Peretz instead of De Gea – also a political decision
So one lesson from dealing with Nübel should be how defensively people at FC Bayern talk about Peretz’s personality. In this way, the Munich team neither arouses excessive hopes in the player nor sleeping dogs. Neuer doesn’t like to hear people talk about his successor. Because that also means that the 37-year-old’s career could be over at some point. Even if that currently seems closer than ever, FC Bayern definitely doesn’t want to upset the captain and leader of the team.
Not even when it became clear during the past transfer period that Neuer would be out for a longer period of time. They didn’t want to bring in direct competition for Neuer and thus unnecessarily increase the pressure on him and Thomas Tuchel. And so FC Bayern signed Peretz and not bigger names like the discussed David De Gea, Bono and David Raya.
Peretz impresses as an overall package
So far the plan is working. Because Peretz is currently playing his role exactly as desired. He doesn’t come to the club blustering and demanding like Nübel. He sometimes presents himself inconspicuously and humbly, calls Neuer “his great idol” and says about FC Bayern: “I’ve been a fan since I was a child.” And so he fell in line behind Sven Ulreich without a complaint and is currently content with the role as actual number three.
A small ego, or rather a big team spirit, was one of the qualities that FC Bayern was looking for and found in Peretz. But the Israeli is much more than just a modest fellow with solid goalkeeping skills. In his home country he is considered one of the greatest goalkeeper talents ever. At the model club Maccabi Haifa he became number one at the age of 21 and made his debut for the senior national team just a year later. His game has few weaknesses. He shows good reflexes when defending against shots, plays safe passes and, above all, looks for short passes when building up the game. He also has solid control of the penalty area.
Memories of the young Manuel Neuer
A goalkeeper profile that, at least in terms of the requirements, is reminiscent of the beginnings of his “great idol” Neuer. Neuer was also 21 years old when he became number one at his youth club. Neuer also went through all the youth national teams with great praise. But Neuer was 25 when he took the step to FC Bayern – and came as a safe number one.
It is currently difficult to predict whether Peretz will one day have this number on the back of the Bayern jersey. Likewise, whether Peretz can perfect his good skills.
Peretz: Balancing act into an uncertain future
Because that’s what a young goalkeeper needs playing time for. Tuchel said: “From abroad, I’m used to the second goalkeeper playing in the cup if he has earned it – not just through performance, but also through his attitude.” But the problem is: As soon as Neuer returns, Peretz isn’t even number two.
This is currently 35-year-old Sven Ulreich, who is now entering his eighth season with FC Bayern and is currently seeded in the Bundesliga. Ulreich was always a good goalkeeper with a good attitude, but his real recipe for success is one thing he never was: a new successor. But at some point Neuer will also end his career and if Peretz actually wants to inherit him, he has to manage a balancing act: The young goalkeeper not only has to show good performances and prove himself in training, he also has to understand and respect the egos and sensitivities of the record champions .
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Source: BR24Sport on the radio September 26, 2023 – 8:45 p.m
