Redsinner Manuel Neuer didn’t want to talk about the key scene with his sending off again in the Bayern dressing room. “Our colleagues know that. I’ve already apologized to one or the other on the pitch,” said the captain of FC Bayern Munich after the round of 16 exit in the DFB Cup, 0-1 against defending champions Bayer Leverkusen.
“That is of course decisive for the game,” said the 38-year-old goalkeeper himself. “That hurts us, and of course I’m sorry.” The first title the Bundesliga leaders were aiming for this season is gone.
Neuer received his first dismissal in the 17th minute in what, according to the club, was his 867th game as a professional footballer. After a long ball from visiting captain Jonathan Tah, the 38-year-old keeper stopped the onrushing Jeremie Frimpong with a hard body check outside the penalty area. Referee Harm Osmers showed red. He had to accept that, said the long-time national goalkeeper after the undisputed sending off.
There were no accusations from teammates after the painful defeat. “I didn’t see it as deciding the game. Manu has saved us many times,” said national team captain Joshua Kimmich. “He makes the right decisions 99.9 percent of the time. No blame!”
Long outnumbered, the people of Munich rebelled. The victory went to the double winner from the Rhine thanks to a joker goal from Nathan Tella in the 69th minute. “A trophy is gone, that hurts,” said sports director Max Eberl. Nevertheless, he also found words of praise: “I thought the team’s reaction was outstanding. I had more of a feeling in the stands that we were the team that wanted to win the game.”
The performance with one less man on the pitch also impressed coach Vincent Kompany. “If the energy stays, then we will gain a lot in the future,” said the Belgian. “No more cup this year.”
There was no criticism of Neuer’s sending off from the coach either. «Manu has made a decision. This is football. And that’s part of it,” said the 38-year-old.
Kimmich also rated the performance against Leverkusen, who were primarily focused on defense, as very good. «It was one of our best performances. Of course it annoys me extremely that the first title is gone,” said the 29-year-old. “The end is annoying, we all play football to win. But we are on the right track, even if the end hurts.”
Senegal
