As it turns out, Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer’s return to the German national team was actually a longtime coming.
How long?
Per Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann, the first conversation happened in March.
“We told Oli in March that we had spoken with Manu. In the end, the decision was a blow for Oli. It’s never good news. When Manu plays, he helps the team. But there have also been times when he hasn’t played. That can happen to us too. That’s why I expressed my confidence in Oli. Manu has won
so many titles, he has an aura, a huge name. Of course, Oli wasn’t like, ‘Ah, okay coach, no problem’ — the relationship suffered a bit, of course, when you deliver news like that,” Nagelsmann said (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).
When asked if Neuer would be the starter, Nagelsmann did not hesitate to answer.
“Yes, I’m planning with Manu as number 1. When it comes to goalkeepers, a coach’s main task is really to take the three best goalkeepers. We decided that Alex, Oli, and Manu are the three best goalkeepers in the country. That’s why we decided to contact Manu and ask if he would like to play for the national team again. Everyone knows what kind of aura Manuel has and what he brings to a team. He has committed to playing another tournament. We are planning with him as our number 1 – knowing that we have a world-class B option in Oli Baumann. The decision has been made – and for me, it is the right one,” said Nagelsmann.
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…
Join the conversation!
Sign up for a user account and get:
- New, improved notifications system!
- Fewer ads
- Create community posts
- Comment on articles, community posts
- Rec comments, community posts
