Bundesliga
New comeback: Lots of applause during the warm-up
Is back in the Bayern goal: Manuel Neuer. photo
© Tom Weller/dpa
323 days after his serious leg break in a skiing accident, national soccer goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is back in goal at FC Bayern Munich.
323 days after his serious leg break in a skiing accident, he is a national soccer goalkeeper Manuel Neuer back in goal for FC Bayern Munich.
The spectators already present greeted the 37-year-old in the Allianz Arena with much applause when he entered the pitch to warm up 40 minutes before kick-off of the home game against SV Darmstadt 98. Neuer is leading the German record champions’ team as captain again. After coach Tuchel’s team arrived at the stadium, the goalkeeper was the first player to leave the team bus.
“He doesn’t seem nervous”
“He doesn’t seem nervous, but it’s a special day after such a long period of injury,” said Bayern’s sports director Christoph Freund before kick-off on Sky: “He’s been working towards this for so long, so everyone is really looking forward to him coming on on the pitch. He seems very focused.”
On December 9, 2022, Neuer broke his right tibia and fibula during a ski tour. Months of rehab followed with a few setbacks. He played his last game before the comeback on Saturday when Germany was eliminated from the World Cup in Qatar on December 1st after the last group game against Costa Rica (4:2). The appearance against Darmstadt was supposed to be his 487th competitive game for FC Bayern.
“I feel his anticipation and feel his whole class,” Tuchel said on Friday when he announced Neuer’s comeback. “There will definitely be a certain amount of nervousness, a tingling feeling,” said the Bayern coach, referring to Neuer’s emotional state shortly before the game. “I’m sure he’ll get into the rhythm very quickly,” added Tuchel optimistically.
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