Champions League
Neuer invokes Bayern team spirit after a 1-0 defeat in Rome
What FC Bayern now needs is a sense of success, says goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. photo
© Andrew Medichini/AP/dpa
“A lot of things are just very difficult at the moment,” says Manuel Neuer about FC Bayern’s crisis. The 0:3 in Leverkusen is followed by a 0:1 in Rome. The hopeful look goes to the second leg against Lazio.
National soccer goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has called for internal cohesion after FC Bayern Munich’s next sporting blow.
“We have to put our finger on the wound and still stay close together,” said the 37-year-old after the 0-1 defeat in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 at Lazio. The defeat followed just four days after the bitter 3-0 defeat in the top Bundesliga game against Bayer Leverkusen. Bayern are currently facing their first season without winning the title since 2011/12.
“We have to look each other in the eyes and help each other on the pitch,” warned Neuer: “It’s no use falling apart now. We are our harshest critics,” he said about the process in the coming days leading up to the league game at VfL Bochum.
“A lot of things are just very difficult at the moment,” said Neuer about the sporting crisis: “We need experiences of success, we need moments of success. It’s all about victories, about goals, about the security you get.”
CEO Dreesen: There’s nothing to sugarcoat
CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said in his banquet speech: “The Romans got the better of us in the second half. There’s nothing to sugarcoat, we imagined it differently.” In the team hotel in Rome, he looked ahead to the second leg on March 5th and recalled the attitude of the former Bayern bosses.
“Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Uli Hoeneß always said when the score was 0-1 away: “That’s a result you can live with. You can still win it at home.” That’s the message we have to take with us. Our team has the quality,” said the Bayern boss in front of the players, coach Thomas Tuchel and the invited guests.
Thomas Müller also remained “consciously self-confident” during the night, as the attacker said: “It’s half time. Sure, we have problems. Nevertheless, things can happen very quickly in football. We now have three weeks for this fight for the quarter-final ticket in the second leg.” The 34-year-old added combatively: “Lazio didn’t go for the second goal when they had the advantage. And I hope we can punish that (in the second leg).”