2023-12-04 22:06:23
It’s the 87th minute when Copenhagen’s Mohamed Elyounoussi heads the ball from a corner in the six-yard box. Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer dives and fishes the ball out of the bottom right corner. But Elyounoussi gets the chance to take a follow-up shot from very close range: Neuer is there once more, holding the ball with his left hand with an incredible reflex.
With his double brilliant deed, Bayern’s number one not only saved the 0-0 draw in the Champions League once morest the Danes on Wednesday. The scene was also symptomatic of what the 37-year-old has been delivering for the record champions since he returned from his serious broken lower leg and lengthy rehab a few weeks ago.
And it was a sign that the oldie is still one of the absolute best in the world – and that Bayern did everything right.
FC Bayern: How long can Neuer continue?
The day before, the record champions had announced, in a complete surprise to fans and experts, the contract extension with the 2014 world champion goalkeeper: Neuer is playing on! And at least until 2025.
The news came as a surprise because, at 37, the Gelsenkirchen native is no longer one of the youngest and his injury was not that long ago. But Neuer has the arguments on his side: On the pitch he impresses like he did in his best times. It’s hard to see that he hadn’t played a game in almost a whole year.
And that raises a question: How long can Neuer continue?
Until recently there was uncertainty as to how the five-time world goalkeeper would come back from such a serious injury, but there is already discussion regarding when Neuer will have to replace his national team colleague Marc-André ter Stegen as the DFB team’s starting goalkeeper.
Ballack: “The best goalkeeper we have”
Numerous prominent advocates see him in the German goal at the home European Championships in 2024. Not only ex-national team captain Michael Ballack was impressed by the Bayern keeper’s recent performances (he was “the best goalkeeper we have” and “a world-class player”). Neuer’s DFB predecessor Jens Lehmann would also “tend towards him”, as he revealed in the show “Triple – the Schüttflix football talk” on Sky.
But Neuer doesn’t just think until the European Championships. After his strong performance once morest Copenhagen, he told reporters: “I want to play as long as I enjoy it. I’m really happy once more that I can be there, that I’m coming back from the long injury and that the team needs me too. I notice that they are happy that I am there,” said the 37-year-old.
Accordingly, it was not a long consideration for him to extend his contract with Bayern. Neuer also has a very special goal in mind with the record champions: the 2025 Champions League final, which – in keeping with Neuer’s new contract end – will take place in Munich.
Neuer wants to go to the “finale at home” in 2025
“We have a nice game in Munich once more, where we have had bad experiences in the past and of course we all want to get to this final,” he admitted – alluding to the lost “final at home” in 2012.
In an interview with SPORT1, Bayern legend Sepp Maier was delighted that Neuer wanted to stay with the record champions at least until this point. “That was great news. “You can only congratulate FC Bayern,” said the former goalkeeper (1962 to 1979) and goalkeeper coach of Bayern (1994 to 2008).
He is sure: “It will be his last contract. I am convinced of that. After that he will take up a position at FC Bayern.”
But that doesn’t seem so certain. Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel gave a clear answer on Friday as to how much longer Neuer might play: “There is no limit for Manu, as long as he feels as good and continues as he is doing right now,” he said at Bayern -Press conference before the match day. “He is in top condition. We don’t put a limit on it. Then he can stand in goal for as long as he wants.”
The 50-year-old continued to rave regarding his goalkeeper: “He is very impressive at the moment, from the first minute he was back in training. The mix between his relaxedness and professionalism is in perfect harmony. He’s at a high level and will probably get a little better with every game.”
Newer? “He’s in a league of his own.”
The numbers also show what level Neuer is currently achieving: According to the statistics portal Ligainsider, he is currently the goalkeeper with the second best rate of blocked shots on goal in the Bundesliga. Neuer thwarts 75 percent of the opponent’s chances. Only Bayer keeper Lukas Hradecky (77.6 percent) is currently a touch ahead of him. In seven games since his return, Neuer has kept his clean sheet four times.
And it’s not just on the line that he shows that he’s performing like he did in his best times, as shown in Bayern’s game once morest Cologne (final score: 1-0 for Bayern). There, Neuer not only served a no-look throw, but also played in the old style like a defender, dancing past an opponent following a back pass in the six-yard box and resolving the situation playfully.
Even before his return to the team, Bayern coach Tuchel was impressed by what he had seen from Neuer. “In training I see a whole new level of goalkeeping. He plays in a league of his own. “In training he shows a very unique level of goalkeeping,” he said.
Today, no one can answer how long Neuer can maintain his current level. Since he wants to play as long as “I enjoy it,” a lot seems possible.
Is Neuer emulating his idol Edwin van der Sar?
But maybe he’ll emulate one of his great idols.
During a visit to the fan club in 2016, the Bayern goalkeeper once mentioned his role models. The first name he uttered was Edwin van der Sar. In his last professional game with Manchester United, the Dutch goalkeeping legend was in the Champions League final once morest FC Barcelona – and lost 3-1.
At 40 years and seven months, van der Sar was the oldest player to have ever appeared in a premier class final.
Neuer would be “only” 39 years old and around two months old at the new “finale at home” of the 2025 Champions League. The Bayern keeper would then want a different outcome than van der Sar before him. But the fact that Neuer also plays until he is over 40 seems anything but daring today.
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