Superlative anthem for newcomers
Tuchel has to build up the discarded DFB star Goretzka
March 15, 2024, 1:42 p.m
Manuel Neuer has a long history of suffering behind him. Now the FC Bayern goalkeeper is returning to the national team. His club coach Thomas Tuchel is now raving about it. In the meantime, he has to build another star.
Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel raves highly about his captain Manuel Neuer and praises the goalkeeper as “unique”. A comeback like Neuer’s after his broken leg can only be achieved by “one in 20,000, one in 20 million players,” said the coach about the returnee, who is back in the German national team after 15 months: “It’s a great gift to experience him like that to be allowed.”
The now 37-year-old keeper is “absolutely world-class in all areas,” said Tuchel, and his comeback “cannot be valued highly enough” – even in view of all the setbacks he had to suffer on the way back. “To be so clear, so open to the whole journey and never to lose conviction… I’m certainly one of the 19,999 who wouldn’t have been able to do that. That’s just great,” said Tuchel.
Returning to the DFB selection is only logical. “It’s a huge reward for him, but not surprising because he’s in a league of his own when it comes to goalkeeping, charisma and anticipation.” What also sets Neuer apart is that he “probably doesn’t like that we talk about him like that,” added Tuchel. With a view to the Bundesliga game against bottom team Darmstadt 98 on Saturday (3.30 p.m. on Sky and in the ntv.de live ticker) Tuchel appealed to his team: “We have to deliver in order to stay ahead” against leaders Bayer Leverkusen. But Tuchel is sure: “We won’t stumble.”
Meanwhile, Tuchel has to catch up with Leon Goretzka, who was not nominated by national coach Julian Nagelsmann. “Leon was very disappointed, it’s a very hard decision, the time is getting shorter and shorter until the European Championships, he’s been very good lately. You could see it in him, but not in training. I’m definitely assuming that he’ll play tomorrow and plays well,” he said. He called the nomination for youngster Aleksandar Pavlovic after just 14 Bundesliga games “very quick and a bit surprising”.
“We have to accept the DFB decisions. That is Julian’s job as national coach, to nominate,” said Tuchel. There’s little point in commenting on that. Despite the disappointment, Goretzka trained well before the game in Darmstadt. In contrast to the midfielder, Kingsley Coman and Noussair Mazraoui are still missing from the regular team against the bottom team. The improved personnel situation is noticeable in the team, said Tuchel: “This is also why the quality in the game and in training is increasing.”