Manuel Neuer’s return to the Bayern goal is a crazy spectacle. Three red cards, eight goals in 38 minutes, a 55-meter shot from Harry Kane – everything going well before the classic in Dortmund?
Manuel Neuer didn’t want to give up the black jersey from his “very emotional” comeback game. After Munich’s 8-0 goal celebration, the Bayern captain kindly but firmly rejected the wish of his unfortunate Darmstadt goalkeeper colleague Marcel Schuhen.
“I would really like to keep the jersey myself during the comeback,” reported Neuer about the short chat between the goalkeepers after a crazy football game with a flood of reds in the goalless first half and a hurricane of goals from Munich after the break, including a dream goal from Harry Kane 55 meters.
Neuer put off his shoes until the second leg in the new year. “It’s all easy, then it’s no problem at all, I always swap. I just keep today’s jersey,” said the national goalkeeper. Schuhen understood that too. The outfit for his 479th Bundesliga game represents a virtual trophy for Neuer. As a victory over himself and many “ups and downs” on the 323-day journey back to the goal after the complicated leg break on a ski tour shortly after the early German World Cup -From Qatar.
Contact national coach Nagelsmann
The accident in the Bavarian mountains almost ended Neuer’s brilliant career. “I’m as happy as I’ve rarely been that I made it,” admitted the exceptional athlete before he said goodbye to the Sunday without training.
Neuer is back. First in the Bayern goal. But of course, after the first 90 minutes with a remarkable save against Darmstadt’s Marvin Mehlem that was frenetically celebrated by the audience when the score was 0-0, he was immediately hit with questions about the national team, the 2024 European Championship at home and DFB competitor Marc-André ter Stegen. He was in contact with his ex-coach and new national coach Julian Nagelsmann. “Julian wished me all the best for today,” said the 2014 world champion.
DFB comeback? “I think that’s a topic that I’m not currently dealing with because I played my first game today.” With him, “everything is deeply relaxed,” assured the 37-year-old. “I’m looking forward to the next games and will give it my all as always.” Regarding competitor ter Stegen, Neuer said: “I think he is definitely number one at the moment.” Mind you – current!
The national team and the home European Championship are new topics for 2024. The present means a return to old strength. “I’m thinking about FC Bayern now, hopefully everything else will take care of itself,” said Neuer, also with a view to a new Bayern contract in the summer.
“He played sensationally well”
The returnee was not only showered with compliments by coach Thomas Tuchel for his willpower on the arduous journey back. “You can imagine the mindset you need to come back from an injury like that. Not many people can do that. It’s a sensational achievement. He deserves the highest respect for that,” said Tuchel: “He played sensationally well.” .
October 28, 2023 will not only be remembered because of Neuer’s return. What happened in the Allianz Arena wasn’t just “bizarre” for the Bayern captain. Three red cards in the first half for Joshua Kimmich as well as Darmstadt defenders Klaus Gjasula and Matej Maglica were a novelty in 60 years of the Bundesliga. And the eight goals from Munich offensive aces Kane (3), Leroy Sané (2), Jamal Musiala (2) and Thomas Müller, who was once again only a substitute, were described by sports director Christoph Freund as “fireworks”.
Man of the day was Neuer, but man of the match was Harry Kane. The 30-year-old Englishman seems worth every euro of his 100 million transfer fee. Twelve goals after the first nine games – no Bundesliga newcomer has achieved that before him. And then Kane also managed to score a goal from his own half against Schuh, who was positioned far in front of the goal. “When the ball was in the air, I just prayed that it would go under the crossbar. It was the first time I’ve scored a goal like that,” said Kane: “Scoring a hat trick is always great.”
Kimmich is missing in Dortmund
Neuer back, Kane, Sané, Musiala and Co. on a scoring spree – everything going well before the league hit in Dortmund? No. Tuchel has to solve a major midfield problem because of Kimmich’s suspension. “The sending off was very stupid. And I’m very annoyed that I’m missing against Dortmund,” said the national player. “This is extremely unfortunate because Joshua is a key player in the middle of the field,” said Tuchel.
Captain Neuer also spoke of a weakening. “Joshua will be missed in our axis as a top performer and leader.” The hope is that Leon Goretzka can play against BVB just two weeks after his metacarpal fracture. Dortmund will also be the first real test for Neuer after Darmstadt and another warm-up in the DFB Cup on Wednesday. “We have to progress in Saarbrücken – and then the classic comes,” said Neuer with shining eyes. “I can’t say what level I have yet.” But he sees every additional game as a “gift.”
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
