Bayern is building on Neuer’s return
Thomas Tuchel even distributes praise instead of scolding
08/17/2023 at 6:03 p.m
Attention: Thomas Tuchel does not scold, but gives praise. The FC Bayern coach announced before the Bundesliga opener against Werder Bremen that the prognosis for the return of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer had “significantly shortened”. Harry Kane already sees Tuchel as the boss, he is only looking for a key.
FC Bayern expect national goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to return to team training in the coming weeks. “Basically, we have very positive news because the intervention in Manu is having a very positive effect,” announced Munich coach Thomas Tuchel one day before the opening of the 61st Bundesliga season on Friday (8.30 p.m./Sat.1/DAZN and in the live ticker on ntv.de) near Werder Bremen.
The prognosis for Neuer’s return to team training was “significantly shortened. The development at Manu is extremely positive.” In his own estimation, Tuchel found the 37-year-old goalkeeper’s most recent sessions in rehab “very impressive. We expect to get back into team training in the next few weeks”.
Neuer broke his leg after the World Cup in December last year. Despite the recent positive prognosis for his star goalkeeper, the German soccer record champion is still looking for a replacement. “It’s still our turn and we’re trying to sign a goalkeeper,” said Tuchel on Thursday, without going into speculation about candidates. In Sven Ulreich (35), Bayern currently only have one experienced and fit goalkeeper in their squad.
All eyes on Harry Kane
At the opening game in Bremen’s Weser Stadium, however, all eyes and camera lenses will again be on Bayern Munich’s new soccer superman. And the expectations of Harry Kane remain limitless. Does the first 100 million man in the Bundesliga start producing goals in Lewandowski’s former dimensions right away when he makes his first start in a duel with last year’s top scorer Niclas Füllkrug?
“I’m ready – and of course I want to score,” said Kane. The 30-year-old was able to get used to his new team-mates more intensively on the training ground this week after his goalless half-hour debut in Munich’s shocking 0:3 in the Supercup against DFB Cup winners RB Leipzig. And Tuchel was delighted with Kane’s positive energy. The coach described the center forward as “our fixed point” after just a week of working together.
Kane is practically the boss without a captain’s armband, which Joshua Kimmich will continue to wear for the time being, since Thomas Müller is fit again, but will start on the substitutes’ bench in Bremen. “Harry works on so many levels. In the dressing room, on the pitch, with his personality and how he trains,” enthused Tuchel: “That makes up his market value, next to the goals. It increases our chance of winning in Bremen. The Harry Kane Effect will not fizzle out.”
“Haven’t found a key yet”
“Taking the lead” and “scoring goals” – these are the main tasks that Kane wants to do in Munich. And collect trophies. Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, Champions League – preferably everything. “I want to play at the highest level. And for titles. That’s why I came to Bayern,” said England’s selection captain confidently.
So all eyes on Kane? Yes and no. In the meantime, people in Munich are also taking a close look at the work and actions of Tuchel. Six wins, five defeats and two draws after 13 competitive games are a coach’s balance sheet that doesn’t even begin to look like Bayern. After the Supercup bankruptcy, the coach was pissed off. He reprimanded his players immediately afterwards. “I almost can’t stand losing,” explained Tuchel. His team is still a mystery to him at times. “We haven’t found the one key to pick the lock yet, but we still have a few on the bunch of keys,” said the coach.
A positive start to the league would be a small sedative for the 49-year-old. Tuchel still does not have a finished team puzzle. Kane just got here. In defence, midfield and offensive there is still no fixed formation. And it will not be Manuel Neuer in goal in Bremen either, but Sven Ulreich.