FC Fulham has reached the quarter -finals in the FA Cup at Manchester United – and can primarily thank Bernd Leno.
After the goals of Calvin Bassey (45.+1) and Bruno Fernandes (71st), the game went to the penalty shootout in Old Trafford – and there the big hour of the goalkeeper, which was in the squad from autumn 2015 to March 2024 and was used in nine games.
Leno held the shots of Victor Lindelöf and Joshua Zirkzee and thus ensured that Fulham threw the Manchester United from the FA Cup 4: 3 after penalty shooting and is now in the top eight. The club is thus able to win the first title in the club’s history, in the quarter -finals the “Cottagers” meet Crystal Palace.
From Bayer Leverkusen via Arsenal to FC Fulham
Leno has been playing for Fulham since the 2022/23 season after the club from London had previously risen to the Premier League. In his first two seasons, the 32-year-old ensured that the club had almost nothing to do with the relegation battle. This season, Fulham, as a ninth with opportunities for the European Cup, is even one of the surprise teams in the league – and also shows that in the cup.
Much of it is related to Leno, who listed his team in 13 out of 28 competitive games this season as a captain and has been number one in the club since the first day after moving from Arsenal to Fulham for 3.6 million euros. Four years earlier, the “Gunners” had still spent 25 million euros for Leno, who performed strong performance at Bayer Leverkusen from 2011 to 2018 and Reifen the national goalkeeper.
Ter Stegen and Leno – best enemies in the DFB team
His career in the DFB team was also overshadowed by some negative stories. Leno’s very tense relationship with Marc-Andre Ter Stegen was a big topic. Both had passed the U -national teams together, a room also shared – and there was a conflict. “We once had a battle. I talked late in the evening, he wanted to sleep”Leno said.
The dispute ended with the fact that he and Ter Stegen were separated that evening. Later said Leno later: “We are competitors. It is logical that we are not the best friends. At some point it came to that we could no longer.” Ter Stegen, who always preferred his opponent, held back publicly, but described the relationship as “Handled”.
Leno canceled Nagelsmann five months ago
In October 2024, Leno was again invited to the national team, he said national coach Julian Nagelsmann, who had previously settled on Alexander Nübel and Oliver Baumann as competitors for the place in the goal. “He said relatively clearly how the situation was and I spoke to him relatively openly and honestly. There was no mere around, so everything was good”said Leno afterwards.
However, the doorman emphasized that the door to the national team is not closed. From the DFB team’s point of view, this would probably not be appropriate due to Lenos in England – he has now impressively underpinned this again in the FA Cup.