Bayern Munich star Manuel Neuer is starting to come under immense pressure to halt his international retirement and take the pitch with Germany one more time at the World Cup.
In the midst of all of that, Neuer was thrust into controversy last week when Lothar Matthäus said that German national team boss Julian Nagelsmann was the reason that Neuer will not return to the team.
Neuer wanted to refute that claim and clear the air…or maybe play damage control. Either way, the goalkeeper wanted to put a lid
on the topic.
“That’s simply not true. We talked back then [at Bayern]; he was my coach. I was also his goalkeeper at the Euros. We don’t have a bad relationship. We have a good one. What’s being said from the outside doesn’t interest him or me. That’s why we’re relaxed about it,” Neuer told ZDF (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). “I’m not involved in the World Cup and I’m not part of the process. My focus is on FC Bayern and I’ve said that time and time again. I’m simply enjoying being part of this team. We have so many important and decisive matches, and I’m just trying to enjoy them with the team.”
It is no secret that Neuer and Nagelsmann have had a strained relationship since the infamous sacking of goalkeeper coach Toni Tapalović at Bayern Munich in 2023, while Nagelsmann was the manager. At the time, rumors indicated that Tapalović, a confidant of Neuer, was leaking information from the coaching staff to the locker room.
While no action was immediately taken, when Neuer broke his leg skiing and was deemed out for the season, Nagelsmann sprung into action and fired Tapalović — an act that came across as cowardly and deliberate in the eyes of many.
Is there still heat between the men over the situation? Neuer says no, but the goalkeeper is also a master politician within the game. There would be no reason — during a World Cup year — for Neuer to make it about himself or create a contentious subplot to Germany’s story for this year.
Below is a timeline of the events as they occurred back in 2023 through today:
- Bayern Munich confirms sacking of Tapalović (01/2023): https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2023/1/23/23567915/bayern-munich-breaking-sack-goalkeeping-coach-toni-tapalovic-manuel-neuer-yann-sommer-alex-nubel
- Tapalović accused of leaking information after he was sacked (01/2023): https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2023/1/24/23568502/bayern-munich-toni-tapalovic-manuel-neuer-julian-nagelsmann-thomas-muller-alexander-nubel-kirchhoff
- Nagelsmann does damage control (01/2023): https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2023/1/27/23569859/bayern-munich-1-fc-koln-bundesliga-manuel-neuer-julian-nagelsmann-toni-tapalovic-firing-yann-sommer
- Gerland hammers Bayern for firing coach (01/2023): https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2023/2/1/23575479/bayern-munich-alumni-hermann-gerland-defends-toni-tapalovic-neuer-ulreich-sommer-transfer-nubel-mane
- Brazzo does damage control (01/2023): https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2023/1/25/23569868/bayern-munich-1-fc-koln-bundesliga-tapalovic-neuer-sommer-ulreich-nubel-nagelsmann-brazzo-muller
- Neuer blasts Bayern for sacking (02/2023): https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2023/2/3/23584653/bayern-munich-manuel-neuer-tears-into-interview-toni-tapalovic-sacking-brutal-heart-sommer-nubel
- Kahn fires back at Neuer (02/2023): https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2023/2/4/23585338/bayern-munich-ceo-oliver-kahn-manuel-neuer-tapalovic-transfer-nubel-ultreich-sommer-muller-kimmich
- Brazzo surprised by Neuer reaction (02/2023): https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2023/2/6/23588013/bayern-munich-hasan-salihamidzic-brazzo-response-manuel-neuer-toni-tapalovic-comments-nagelsmann-fcb
- Nagelsmann had long-term issue with Tapalović (02/2023): https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2023/2/8/23589850/bayern-munich-julian-nagelsmann-manuel-neuer-toni-tapalovic-sacking-sport1-contract-extension-2024
- Nagelsmann addresses feud with Neuer (02/2023): https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2023/2/12/23595757/bayern-munich-julian-nageslmann-feud-manuel-neuer-sharks-toni-tapalovic-sacking-interview-new-coach
- Bayern Munich might have considered fining Neuer over sacking comments (02/2023): https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2023/2/10/23594117/bayern-munich-report-manuel-neuer-fine-two-million-euros-interview-tapalovic-kahn-brazzo-nagelsmann
- BFW addresses sacking (02/2023): https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2023/2/8/23587469/bayern-munich-manuel-neuer-transfer-sommer-nagelsmann-nubel-kimmich-muller-brazzo-kahn-hainer-gnabry
- Relationship strained between Bayern, Neuer (02/2023): https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2023/2/6/23587131/julian-nagelsmann-manuel-neuer-bayern-munich-muller-kimmich-brazzo-tapalovic-sommer-nubel-sane-mane
- Nagelsmann’s power at Bayern (02/2023): https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2023/2/9/23592688/julian-nagelsmann-bayern-munich-brazzo-kahn-hainer-neuer-kimmich-muller-lewandowski
- Neuer, Nagelsmann met in attempt to work it out (02/2023): https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2023/2/10/23593651/bayern-munich-julian-nagelsmann-manuel-neuer-kimmich-transfer-tapalovic-muller-sommer-goretzka-sane
- Reports of rift between Neuer and Nagelsmann (10/2026): https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/germany-international-soccer/141698/fight-germany-boss-julian-nagelsmann-bayern-munich-star-manuel-neuer
- Matthäus says Neuer won’t play at the World Cup because of Nagelsmann (04/2026): https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/germany-international-soccer/186784/lothar-matthaus-says-julian-nagelsmann-is-blocking-manuel-neuer-from-a-return-to-the-german-national-team
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
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