CEO Oliver Kahn from FC Bayern Munich has criticized captain Manuel Neuer for his statements. The Süddeutsche Zeitung and the English language sports website The Athletic the goalkeeper had given a well-received interview. “What Manuel said in parts of these two interviews in connection with Toni Tapalovic’s release does neither do justice to him as captain nor to the values of FC Bayern. In addition, his statements are untimely because we are facing very important games,” said Kahn on Friday evening of the German Press Agency.
When asked about Neuer’s motives, Kahn said: “He’s personally affected, you have to understand that to a certain extent. We were also aware of that when we explained to him that the decision that was not taken lightly on the question of the goalkeeper coach was the best at the moment for our team. I was in a similar situation as a national player in 2004. Our goalkeeping coach Sepp Maier felt badly treated by the DFB and they split up. I had worked with Sepp for years and we had a friendly and trusting relationship,” he said Munich CEO. “I was disappointed at the time, too, and I was angry at the DFB. But the common goals were my priority. They were more important to me than my personal feelings. And that’s why I decided not to express myself publicly at the time. Manuel has now done the opposite,” said Kahn.
The 53-year-old announced talks with the injured goalkeeper. “We will speak to him very clearly about this,” said Kahn. In the interview he had ruled out resigning from the national team. Neuer expressed his disappointment that the German record champions parted ways with long-time goalkeeping coach Toni Tapalovic. “He didn’t just work for me for eleven and a half years, but for everyone,” explained Neuer. “It was a blow for me when I was already on the ground. I felt like my heart was being ripped out, that was the craziest thing I’ve experienced in my career,” Neuer said.
