Champions League Neuer has big plans for Bayern: “The journey continues”
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer wants “big things” at FC Bayern. photo
© Sven Hoppe/dpa
After his contract extension, Manuel Neuer wants “big things” at FC Bayern. The fight for the DFB goal will also be an issue. Another important contract issue is pending in Munich.
Manuel Neuer has big goals for FC Bayern Munich after his contract extension.
“I’m happy to be part of the team again, that I can attack fully again and that our journey together will continue until 2025,” said the captain of the German record champions after his contract extension. “We have a big goal with the Champions League final here in Munich.”
This will take place on May 31, 2025. First of all, Europe’s premier football league continues today with the group game against FC Copenhagen. Neuer and his backup Sven Ulreich (35) are sure to receive great applause against the Danish champions in front of 75,000 spectators. Both extended their contracts until June 30, 2025.
Further contractual questions remain open
In addition to the contracts of the two goalkeepers, the working papers of Thomas Müller, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Bouna Sarr are also dated until the end of this season. Müller is expected to continue his time at Bayern; the club icon’s personality has a special meaning in the executive suite. The other two professionals are about to change clubs.
“Manuel Neuer has shown since his comeback that he has not lost any of his skills,” said CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen. “That’s very valuable for FC Bayern, it’s incredibly important for the team to feel that support, to have that security at the back of the goal – and that affects the whole game.”
Neuer announcement: There can still be great things to come
After his return a month ago, Neuer made six appearances across all competitions in which he showed strong performances. “I know that great things can still come. That’s the demand I have for myself,” Neuer said recently in a club documentary about his comeback.
After the national team’s early exit from the World Cup in Qatar, Neuer suffered a complicated leg fracture during a ski tour in December. “It is the most serious injury we have seen in decades in connection with professional football,” said Peter Ueblacker, one of the team doctors in the documentary. The tibia and fibula were broken.
Neuer as part of a great goalkeeping tradition
The fight back was impressive. “Manuel Neuer is the best goalkeeper in the world in the last 10 or 15 years,” said sports director Christoph Freund. Bayern is known for a great goalkeeping tradition, said Freund, referring to the eras with Sepp Maier and Oliver Kahn. “Manuel Neuer is one of them.”
Coach Thomas Tuchel spoke of “pride” when looking at Neuer’s comeback. He emphasized that Bayern’s good form is linked to its captain. “The return of Manu was a key for us to get even more security and more peace,” said Tuchel the day before the Copenhagen game.
What does Nagelsmann do?
The schedule for the DFB comeback has been named. Neuer wants to be there again in the March international matches. His advantage in the duel with the current number 1, Marc-André ter Stegen, remains that his consistently splendid performances at FC Barcelona often remain under the radar of the German football public.
National coach Julian Nagelsmann left all options open. “We all hope that he plays extremely consistently until the next international match. Then things will change again,” said the 36-year-old about Neuer.
dpa
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