11 phrases from Manuel Neuer: Germany’s World Cup debacle, serious injury and Bayern sacking scandal

These are days of reflection and full recovery for Neuer manual, who aspires to return to football soon but walks on crutches after the serious injury he suffered while skiing. Broken right leg, the captain of Bayern Munich and Germany has time to digest the few eventful months of his professional career.

Neuer assisted at the portal Athleticism at Lake Tegernsee, an hour south of Munich, where he gave a long interview to journalist Rafael Honigstein to talk about the withdrawal of Germany in the group stage of the World Cup in Qatar – for the second consecutive World Cup – after the controversy with his “One Love” bracelet, as well as his unexpected injury and the scandal of the Bayern Munich for the dismissal of Toni Tapalovic.

“Toni was always a team player with us, everyone saw it that way. He didn’t work for me for 11 and a half years, but for the whole group of goalkeepers, for the technical staff and for the club. We have always been able to separate work from private life. I understand that it may seem that I am not objective or credible, but I can really make a difference. For me it was a blow, when I was already on the ground. I felt like my heart was ripped out. It’s the most brutal thing I’ve experienced in my career. And I’ve been through a lot,” said the 36-year-old goalkeeper.

Neuer started working with Tapalovic since joining Munich in 2011 but was sacked amid allegations of a difficult relationship with the coach Julien Nagelsman and for the captain of the Bavarian club there is no reason to justify it: “There was no reason that I could understand. Things have been said that I don’t agree with. Nothing I heard would have ruled out the possibility of people talking to each other and working things out. In all these years I have never heard a coach say anything negative about Tony.. Ask to Pep Guardiola and his group, or Carl (Ancelotti) o Nico (Kovac).

One of the main rumors was that he leaked information from the coaching staff, which Neuer He considers it impossible and for him it means a big blow. “Not 100% no. Toni has never done that, with any coach. It’s a big disappointment. It’s about the human side of things, how a valued employee was treated. At Bayern Munich, we want to be different: one family. And then something happens that I’ve never experienced before. It’s a shame for everyone: for the club, for Tapa, for the group and for all the goalkeepers, myself included. However, I want to say: I am a human being on the one hand and I am a professional on the other hand”, he explained.

Other topics he talked about Neuer manual was to remove Germany in the Qatar World Cup, where they lost to Japan (2-1), drew with Spain (1-1) and beat Costa Rica (4-2) but were sent off due to goal difference. The experienced keeper considers that he didn’t have enough support and couldn’t fully concentrate on football.

“We had relatively little support at home. If I compare that to the energy we felt in 2010…it was crazy. There was more attention paid to political issues than we had ever seen. As soon as we got back from our pre-World Cup training camp in Oman, we had a stone around our necks. Looking back, maybe we could have done with a little more support. So we would have focused on sport, on our match against Japan. Japan’s second half was indescribably bad. The match in Spain was very good, one of the best in the World Cup, according to people. Costa Rica was fine. In the end, we were eliminated because of the goal difference”, he analyzed Neuer.

The premature departure was accompanied by a controversy over the use of the ‘One Love’ bracelet to promote diversity and inclusion: “FIFA’s decision to ban the bracelet came as a surprise. A clear message would have helped us, with hindsight we could have done with a little more support. Prior to the tournament, critics called the One Love bracelet a worthless gesture, which we hid behind. After FIFA’s sanction, it suddenly became the most important symbol of world football. I felt that whatever choice you made was the wrong one.. We were under a lot of pressure. It was a bit too much for us. »

Neuer manual He also mentioned the decision he made with his classmates The team cover their mouths in protest. “We are mature, responsible players and we defend our values. This is an attitude that we have always defended. We had the feeling that FIFA was silencing us. We wanted to make a statement with this gesture and then focus on gaming. Some may have liked the idea more, others the idea less. We have all known each other for a long time. Nobody was pushed, nobody was forced. We decided together,” he said.

As, Neuer He also acknowledged that it put them in the eye of the storm and clarified that the gesture was intended exclusively for the body that regulates world football: “Some European nations had agreed to wear the bracelet, but we were alone with this movement. . Nobody else has done anything like this. It was for FIFA, it was in no way directed against the Arab world or Islam. We have Muslim players in our ranks, there is great respect for them.. We live and breathe diversity, it is a natural situation for us.

Talking about the sporting responsibility for Germany’s elimination, the German team captain admitted that they weren’t firm behind it. “Defending was difficult for us for a long time. You saw it in the goals we conceded in the tournament and also in the friendly match we played before going to Doha. Oman should have been ahead of us. It was alarming. When people said that I was responsible for Germany’s failure, it struck me; Somehow it hurt a lot. I don’t know if it was a campaign against me, but I was heading in that direction.. However, what hurt me the most was the sporting result, our elimination. We failed in 2018 and now we failed again“, laments.

This setback resulted in an early return home and a lot of free time which Neuer manual He sought to fill himself with outdoor sports activities, which he greatly enjoys, even though he found himself seriously injured during an afternoon of skiing, which was very common for him.

“I couldn’t sit still, I didn’t want to watch the games at first either. I couldn’t bear it. So I went for a 10km run the first day and again the second.. And I realized: it gave me motivation. I used to have the nickname ‘Hyper‘ when I was younger, because I was always on the move. Cycling, tennis, I am a person who does outdoor sports and needs to be in contact with nature. On the third day I went for a long walk and on the fourth one visit skiing with my closest friends. I have been skiing for over 30 years. For me it’s not a vacation activity, it’s like going to the bakery. There was something under the snow that stopped me. I was going maybe 10 or 12 km/h. It was a training exercise, a reset for body and mind. I’ve walked this trail countless times, even solo. It’s child’s play, in general,” he explained.

Neuer revealed that the news froze the directors of the Bayern Munich and he thought they had done well to sign Yann Sommer: “They were in a state of shock. No one could say anything at first. Maybe that’s why they were a little reserved with me. I could understand that. After the World Cup, it was also not easy for the club to deal with the disappointment of the players (…) When Yann (Sommer) was brought in, I told the bosses I had no problem with that. I think it’s good that we have two great goalkeepers. I know Yann for a long time and I know he’s a good guy and a good goalkeeper. The club has found an excellent solution. It was important to me that there was someone there and that I didn’t have to worry.. However, Sven Ulrich he would also have done an outstanding job. But for me, it was the natural reaction. This is who I am. We all benefit when the team and the club team are successful. Even me, sitting at home on crutches.”

As he continues his recovery, Neuer manual He is focused on his return, as he assures that he still loves football and that he wants to recover his places in the Bayern Munich and the German team.

“I have to see how I will come back. When the time comes, I will look in the mirror and tell myself the truth, as always. If I don’t comply, I will quit my job. But don’t expect that to happen. Of course, I’m an old man now (36). I look back and remember playing with Ivica Olic and Daniel van Buyten at Bayern. But that’s the good thing: there are always new players, it’s always a new team, and I’m always here.. Although I have the impression that some people are tired of seeing the old players. Whoever is the best will play. If I want to play, I have to be the best. It’s always been like that,” he concluded.

Continue reading: