VBayern Munich chief Oliver Kahn has criticized captain Manuel Neuer for his statements in two interviews. “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 come at an inopportune time because we are facing very important games,” said Kahn on Friday evening at the request of the German Press Agency.
When asked about Neuer’s motives, Kahn said: “He is 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 we made about the goalkeeping coach, which was not taken lightly, was the best thing for our team at that moment. I faced a similar situation as a national player in 2004. Our goalkeeper coach Sepp Maier felt badly treated by the DFB and they separated. I had worked with Sepp for years and we had a friendly and trusting relationship,” said the Munich CEO.
“I was disappointed at the time too, and I was angry at the DFB. But the common goals were in the foreground for me. They were more important to me than my personal feelings. And that’s why I decided at the time not to speak publicly. Manuel has now done the opposite,” added Kahn. The 53-year-old announced talks with the injured goalkeeper. “We’re going to talk to him about it very clearly,” Kahn said.
Neuer had previously spoken out extensively for the first time after the World Cup debacle and his serious skiing accident, criticized FC Bayern for a decision and put an abrupt end to speculation about a possible career end in the DFB-Elf.
“I am still here. Even though some people may have the feeling that they are fed up with the old players,” said the keeper, who is resting due to injury, in an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung published on Friday, which also appeared in the The Athletic portal.
Close confidants: Manuel Neuer and his former goalkeeping coach Toni Tapalovic (back).
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Image: dpa
He is in exchange with national coach Hansi Flick. “He clearly expects me to come back. I’m sure I can do it,” announced the 36-year-old aggressively.
It is the first time that Neuer speaks in detail about the smoldering top issues of the past few weeks. About his Bayern successor Yann Sommer, the skiing accident and the messed up World Cup that was determined by political issues. But nothing hit the 2014 World Champion as hard as the end of his close friend Toni Tapalovic as goalkeeping coach with the German record champions.
“The feeling of my heart being ripped out”
Neuer cannot understand why his confidante and best man had to go. “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,” admitted the goalkeeper.
Bayern surprisingly announced the release of Tapalovic at the end of January. “In particular, differences about the way we work together have now led to us going our separate ways,” said sporting director Hasan Salihamidžić.
Coach Julian Nagelsmann said that there was never a relationship with Tapalovic. For Neuer, the sacking remains a mystery. “As Bayern Munich we want to be different – a family. And then something happens that I haven’t seen here before,” said the FIFA World Goalkeeper of the Year 2020.
The story leaves Neuer with disappointment. But even without his long-time companion, he wants to fight his way back. He’s having fun working on his comeback. “There will be no damage,” assured Neuer.
“One Love” debate as a “block and leg”
Despite the serious setback at an advanced football age, the 36-year-old doesn’t sound like he wants to give up his old place with Bayern or the national team without a fight. “The best will play. If I want to play, I have to be the best,” said Neuer, looking at the looming battle for positions. At FC Bayern, the goalkeeper is represented by Sommer. Kevin Trapp and Marc-André ter Stegen want to prove themselves in the national jersey in Neuer’s absence.
In the weeks without football so far, Neuer’s thoughts have not only revolved around his future, but also around the recent past: among other things, around the messed up World Cup in Qatar and all its side notes. “Political matters have had a weighting that has never existed for us as athletes. We had a block on the leg when we arrived,” Neuer recalled and complained about the lack of support from the DFB in the debate about the “One Love” bandage: “In the end, a clearer announcement would certainly have helped us.”
After the World Cup, distraction was needed. Jogging, hiking and the fateful ski tour that costs Neuer at least the rest of the season. “There was something under the snow that stopped me. I had a speed of maybe ten or twelve kilometers an hour,” Neuer described the day on his “local mountain” when he broke his lower leg. Feelings of having let his team down accompanied him in the days that followed.
As quickly as the injury came, so did the confidence that everything would go back to how it used to be. Neuer presents himself aggressively: “If I don’t perform, I will vacate the post. But don’t count on it!”
