Manuel Neuer

It's time for The Truth! Sam and Dougie are back together (although sadly not in the studio) to take a look at just how well things are going at Bayern Munich right now for Vincent Kompany (and company). After winning 2-1 at the Bernabeu to record their first away win against Real Madrid in 25 years, many people have them as the favourites to lift the Champions League title at the end of the season, and there's plenty of reasons to be positive around Bayern right now. The scintillating form of their front three - Luis Diaz, Harry Kane, and Michael Olise - has led to the trio scoring 87 goals between them this season already, and 52 assists for good measure. There's the age-defying quality of Manuel Neuer in goal, a formidable midfield spearheaded by veteran Joshua Kimmich and rising star Aleksandar Pavlovic, the introduction of Jonathan Tah has been a masterstroke in the middle of defence, and the pace of Alphonso Davies combining with the guile of Konrad Laimer at full back. To top all that off, there's a late-stage rejuvenated Serge Gnabry flying in the middle, the mind-bending talent of Jamal Musiala returning from injury, and the prodigious teenage sensation Lennart Karl popping up with crucial moments that have many in Germany arguing he should go to the World Cup with the National Team. So, right now, are there any weaknesses in this Bayern side? Can this growing team now match up to an Arsenal side that beat them in the League stage? And could PSG be the wildcard in the pack as they attempt to go back-to-back in the Champions League? As ever, The Truth is somewhere in the middle... And remember, if you’d like more from the Rank Squad, including extra podcasts every Monday and Friday (including our weekly Postbox taking a look at the whole weekend of football) and access to our brilliant Discord community, then why not join us here on Patreon? (http://patreon.com/ranksfc) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week’s quarter-finals provided some classic action as this season’s competition hurtles towards its conclusion Bayern Munich had not won at the Santiago Bernabéu since May 2001, when they beat Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final on their way to becoming European champions. Tuesday night’s match changed all that. The 29th Champions League meeting between the teams lived up to its heavyweight billing, though Bayern, superior on the night, may rue their failure to extend their 2-1 lead. Real Madrid meanwhile could point to Manuel Neuer making nine saves – not bad for a 40-year-old. “We won’t win the competition without more of these kinds of performances,” said Bayern’s manager, Vincent Kompany, of his keeper. Big trophies are rarely won without great goalkeepers and Neuer continues to play like an all-time great. Bayern’s second goal was a trademark finish from Harry Kane, who made the difficult look easy. The goal will also have calmed England fans’ fears that their captain will arrive at the World Cup suffering from his usual summer malaise. A word too for Luis Díaz and Michael Olise, Bayern’s brilliant wingers whose performances brought back memories of the club’s modern greats Franck Ribéry and Arjen Robben. Kompany’s team were commanding in Madrid, but may fear the backlash from the 15-times champions, the kings of comebacks.

The German goalkeeper has already made it clear whether or not there is a possibility of a return Leer

Reds are still alive in Champions League tie thanks to the performance of their No2 goalkeeper

The performance of Manuel Neuer with Bayern Munich against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League has sparked debate in Germany over whether he should be part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Bayern Munich’s 2-1 win over Real Madrid in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals was built, in part, on Manuel Neuer’s performance. That put the veteran goalkeeper back in the spotlight, fueling debate over whether he should return to the Germany national team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. “This version of Neuer is world-class; he belongs in the national team,” said legend Lothar Matthaus after the match, according to Marca. He also sent a message to the Germany head coach: “I hope Nagelsmann watched the match. I would love to see Neuer in this kind of form at the World Cup… but I also know that won’t happen. Nagelsmann won’t open that door.” That push comes nearly two years after Neuer’s retirement from international soccer. He chose to close that chapter of his career following Germany’s elimination from UEFA Euro 2024 in the quarterfinals against Spain. In that way, the goalkeeper said goodbye to Germany after 15 years, having first been called up in 2009. During that span, he played in four World Cups and four European Championships, and won the sport’s biggest prize at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final. In total, he made 124 international appearances and recorded 54 clean sheets. Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann. “The best players have to go to the World Cup, and Manu is by far the best goalkeeper in the world,” said former star Benedikt Howedes, who was Neuer’s teammate at the 2014 World Cup. Even a current Germany and Bayern Munich player, Aleksandar Pavlovic, shared his view: “I would never say no to Manu, no matter his age. He is still an exceptional goalkeeper.” What did Neuer say about a possible return to Germany? Those calls for Manuel Neuer’s return to the Germany national team generated enough speculation that the 40-year-old goalkeeper addressed the topic himself after the match against Real Madrid in the Champions League. “Everything has already been said about it,” Neuer replied when asked about a potential appearance at the 2026 World Cup. Instead, he chose to focus on his club objectives: “What matters now is finishing the rest of the season with Bayern. I’m enjoying my time with the team, at the club, with the coaching staff. It’s true that I’m 40 years old, but I’m still here.” How have Germany replaced Neuer? Since Manuel Neuer’s international retirement, Julian Nagelsmann has been forced to test different options in goal for Germany. Over the past two years, the coach has used three different goalkeepers in official matches and friendlies. The most-used has been Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann, with a total of 11 appearances. Behind him is Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who has managed just four matches due to injury issues during his time with Barcelona, which have also kept him sidelined at Girona. The third goalkeeper selected by Nagelsmann is Stuttgart’s Alexander Nubel, who has featured in three matches.

Should he return to the national team for the upcoming 2026 World Cup? The goalkeeper made his position clear. Leer

David Raya and Manuel Neuer dazzled in the Champions League this week - but are they among the world's best goalkeepers?

Manuel Neuer earned the player of the match award for his performance in Bayern Munich's 2-1 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League, but was tetchy post-match

Manuel Neuer was the best goalkeeper in the world in his 20s and 30s, and arguably still is after turning 40 at the end of March. Just ask Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior...

Bayern Munich claimed a crucial 2-1 victory against Real Madrid in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Bernabéu, with goals from Luis Díaz and Harry Kane giving the defending Bundesliga champions a deserved advantage in the tie.

Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany hailed goalkeeper Manuel Neuer after his team secured a 2-1 Champions League quarter-final first leg win at Real Madrid on Tuesday. Luis Diaz and Harry Kane’s goals gave the Bundesliga leaders a strong lead on a dominant display but Kylian Mbappe pulled one back for Madrid, with Neuer making a […] The post Bayern’s Kompany praises ‘special’ Neuer display in win at Real Madrid appeared first on Soccer America.

Vincent Kompany said he's "impressed every day" by Manuel Neuer after the veteran goalkeeper made nine saves in Bayern Munich's 2-1 Champions League win over Real Madrid on Tuesday.

Real Madrid 1-2 Bayern Munich: The visitors dominated a classic Champions League tie but may be left ruing missed chances in next week’s second leg

“This is why you guys come to these games,” Vincent Kompany had said, and especially here. For the quality, the chaos and the goals, the edge, the drama and the history that invades every moment. Another wild Champions League night had this place believing in another crazy comeback, the noise level rising towards what appeared destined to be one, last thunderous crescendo as Real Madrid rose again and went for their biggest European rivals. In the end, though, Bayern Munich held on for a win that sets up another, definitive battle at the Allianz Arena next week. Strikes from Luis Díaz and Harry Kane either side of half-time had given Bayern a 2-0 lead, underlining an incontestable authority in the opening hour. But a Kylian Mbappé goal 16 minutes from the end began a rebellion that could have left the tie on even more of a knife edge than it is, Madrid finding chances for a draw or even another victory. They also found Manuel Neuer rolling back the years, aged 40, with nine saves.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in signing James Trafford this summer. The England goalkeeper has endured a difficult season after returning to Manchester City last summer. Trafford re-…

Lennart Karl scored in the ninth minute of stoppage time as Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich fought back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in Freiburg.

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Jonas Urbig says that Manuel Neuer’s “obsession with details” is what sets him apart, and that the team is “well prepared to face Real Madrid” in the UEFA Champions League.

As Germany line up at the 2026 World Cup this summer, there will be one huge name missing from their squad. Manuel Neuer will not be going to the tournament with his nation, after making way for a …

Eddie Howe is likely to have as big a say on his future as the Newcastle hierarchy, talkSPORT understands. Magpies chief executive David Hopkinson has raised serious doubts over Howe’s position by …

Only one of the 17 surviving Premier League clubs from last season hasn’t increased their ticket prices – and some of those clubs have hiked prices or even completely binned concession tickets for children. Marcus, Luke and Andy tackle one of the most burning issues in the Premier League right now. Plus, what’s the biggest false dawn in football? Would it be better if transfers were just revealed on matchday? And where does Manuel Neuer rank in the pantheon of legendary goalkeepers? Come join us! We're back on stage and tickets are out NOW! Join us at London Palladium on Friday September 20th 2024 for 'Football Ramble: Time Tunnel', a journey through football history like no other. Expect loads of laughs, all your Ramble favourites, and absolutely everything on Pete's USB stick. Get your tickets at footballramblelive.com! Find us on X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: [email protected]. Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month, with 15% off annual subscriptions until the end of August: https://www.patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League season and every day throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.