In an intriguing interview with The Athletic Membership’s Rafael Honigstein, Bayern Munich captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer touched on quite a lot of matters, together with World Cup elimination and a current foot damage.

One of many major speaking factors was the firing of longtime goalkeeping coach Toni Tabalovic, which induced uproar final month. The 42-year-old was a detailed confidante and good friend of Neuer, who had adopted him to Bayern since his Schalke days. Regardless of being the captain of the group, Neuer stormed into the membership to make this transfer.

“That hit hit me actually exhausting,” Neuer mentioned. “It was instructed to me by membership officers. And it got here out of nowhere. For Tony too. I did not perceive it in any respect. It actually broke me.”

“Tony was all the time a group participant with us, and everybody noticed it that manner. He hadn’t labored for me for 11 and a half years, however for the entire group of goalkeepers, the teaching employees and the membership. We have all the time been in a position to separate work and personal life. I perceive it would seem to be I I am not goal or implausible, however I can actually inform the distinction.”

That is exhausting to learn, and the sentiment will definitely not be appreciated by the membership bosses. Nevertheless, Neuer selected to take it a step additional, which can anger some followers.

“For me, that was a blow — once I was already on the bottom. It felt like my coronary heart was being ripped out. It was essentially the most brutal factor I’ve ever been by way of in my profession. And I’ve skilled loads.”

So it was worse than being eradicated within the group stage of the World Cup twice, or 2012 Champions League final? Nicely, Manu. No matter you say.

“I’ve grown a thick pores and skin,” Neuer added. “However what occurred now could be an entire different stage. Everybody within the goalkeeper group was torn aside. Individuals burst into tears. I feel that claims all of it. We goalkeepers are a group inside a group, however Tony was in style with the entire group.

There isn’t any officer, nothing to see right here!

When requested concerning the causes for Tabalović’s sacking, Neuer remained defiant. For context, it was revealed that Tabalović and Nagelsmann had severe disagreements over how you can do issues, and the goalkeeping coach refused to comply with directions. Neuer denies this.

“There was no purpose for me to grasp,” he mentioned. “Issues had been mentioned with which I didn’t agree. Nothing I heard would have dominated out the potential of individuals speaking to one another and sorting issues out.”

Neuer later added that he “wasn’t within the coaching squad” so perhaps he did not have the complete image.

As for the thought of ​​Tabalović having a nasty relationship with Alexander Nubel, the Bayern captain mentioned he “could not think about it”.

Tapa was liable for Noble’s transfer to Bayern in 2020: he noticed Alex at Schalke 04 at a time no different membership had seen and beneficial him to Bayern instantly. He labored with Alex in addition to I, with Sven Ulrich and (ex-Bayern goalkeeper) Christian Frochtel. In all these years I’ve by no means heard a coach say something destructive about Tony. Ask Pep Guardiola and his employees, or Carlo (Ancelotti) or Niko (Kovac).

Extra importantly, Neuer additionally denied rumors that Tabalović was leaking info from the dressing room. This was one of many causes given by Bild for the dismissal.

household and professionalism

Lastly, Neuer ended this a part of the interview by speaking about how he felt after being handled this manner. When requested what this story left him with, the 36-year-old mentioned it was a “enormous disappointment”.

“It is concerning the human facet of issues, the best way a revered worker was handled. At Bayern we need to be completely different – a household. Then one thing occurs that I’ve by no means seen earlier than. It is unhappy for everybody: for the membership, for Tapa, the employees and all of the goalkeepers, Together with I. Nevertheless, I want to say: I’m a human being on the one hand, and an expert then again.

As for what this implies for his future relationship with the coach, Neuer would not appear to carry any grudges.

“It signifies that I discuss issues over with Julian and work with him in an expert manner. We had been frank with one another. He is aware of the place I stand. I battle for the membership’s well-being and can by no means be an impediment. I’m a group participant and as captain I’ve particular duties.”

We will solely hope he will get the possibility.

This was only a small excerpt. Yow will discover the complete interview at the athlete.