“It looks good for Manuel”
FCB captain Neuer is said to be on the verge of a comeback
October 4, 2023, 6:27 a.m
It has been announced many times, but now it really seems to have happened: Bayern captain Manuel Neuer is about to return to the record champions’ team. Almost ten months after his serious injury on a ski tour, he could be back after the international break, his club says.
Bayern Munich’s sports director Christoph Freund does not believe it is impossible for national soccer goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to return to the next game in the Champions League. “We’ll see. It would be a nice story, but I wouldn’t rule it out,” he said on Amazon Prime before the away game in the European premier class against FC Copenhagen. “If things continue like this for the next ten days, then we hope to see him back on the pitch soon.”
Coach Thomas Tuchel emphasized that things had looked very good recently after the 2-1 win against the Danes on Tuesday evening. “I’ve been very impressed with the last few training sessions, with his aura and charisma and quality.”
Bayern don’t want to put Neuer under pressure
Neuer had completed part of the team training last Thursday for the first time since his serious leg break last December. The 37-year-old captain of the German record champions has now trained with the team two or three times and so far no problems, reported Freund. “It looks good for Manuel,” emphasized the 46-year-old. But everyone is very careful, so load control is very important.
“I don’t want to put a backpack on him and make predictions that I have to take back,” emphasized Tuchel. Neuer would decide that himself later. And he would say yes if Neuer could, the Bayern coach explained on Amazon Prime: “He wants to anyway.”
Bayern’s next game in the Champions League is on October 24th at Galatasaray Istanbul after the next international break, which lasts from October 9th to 19th. Neuer played his last game to date in Germany’s early World Cup exit in Qatar on December 1, 2022 against Costa Rica. After the tournament, the 2014 world champion broke his tibia and fibula on his right lower leg while ski touring. His comeback after a long rehab was delayed several times due to minor problems.