Hope to take part in the World Cup
Dhe most important thing didn’t happen on the main training ground in the wonderful Munich autumn weather before FC Bayern’s relaxed group finale in the Champions League. Before the Munich soccer pros headed by leader Joshua Kimmich started with a relaxed final training session on Monday for the home game against Inter Milan on Tuesday (9 p.m. in the afternoon), which was no longer decisive FAZ live ticker for the Champions League and on Prime Video) sent national goalkeepers Manuel Neuer positive signals from a neighboring square.
The 36-year-old completed goalkeeper-specific exercises on Monday morning. Neuer first caught balls, then fended off loose shots from goalkeeper coach Toni Tapalovic – and he even threw himself on the lawn. The injured shoulder did everything that the national coach did Hansi Flick three weeks before the German national team’s first World Cup game in Qatar against Japan.
Especially since Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann announced very positive things after Neuer’s stress test: “It’s looking good. He took everything well, including the impact on his shoulder. I think the nation can go to bed with peace of mind.” It is possible that Neuer will be back in goal next Saturday in Berlin after missing seven competitive games against Hertha BSC, as Nagelsmann did not rule out. Against Inter but plays again Sven Ulrich.
“The pod is a little bruised”
There will be some changes to the outfield players before that. “We’ll have to rotate a bit because we have a lot of battered and tired players.” And with them Bavaria, who have already been determined as group winners and participants in the round of 16, the Bundesliga has exceptional priority over the premier class in the exhausting final sprint before the World Cup break. “We still have three extremely important Bundesliga games left,” said Nagelsmann, referring to the games against Hertha, Bremen and Schalke and the attack on league leaders Union Berlin.
Therefore, nothing is risked against Inter in terms of personnel. In addition to new and Thomas Müller (muscular problems) Leroy Sané and Lucas Hernández will not be included in the squad after their muscle injuries, even though they trained with the team on Monday. Defense chief Matthijs de Ligt will also pause due to a knee injury. “The capsule is a bit injured,” said Nagelsmann.
“Anyone can show themselves, it’s nice,” said the trainer to the staff. Holland talent Ryan Gravenberch is allowed to appear in the starting XI. Kimmich, currently captain on behalf of the missing Neuer and Müller, sees no problem in the changes: “We are currently very competitive. Everyone’s up for it, everyone’s turn, everyone wants to play.” Bayern are currently in flow. “We are strong and stable at the moment. And now we’ve managed to get both things right: the football and the result,” said Kimmich, who played almost all of the time.
Inter is already a fixed second in the table and a participant in the round of 16. Bayern won the first leg in Milan with an outstanding goalscorer at the time sane with 2:0. Bayern boss Oliver Kahn fears no motivation problems in the new showdown in the arena, even without great sporting pressure. “You saw against Mainz how our team ticks. Everyone who plays wants to show what they’ve got,” explained Kahn, referring to Saturday’s 6-2 win. Kahn’s message to Inter sounded accordingly: “It will definitely be everything, but not a comfortable friendly game.”
In addition to a prize money of 2.8 million euros, Bayern is tempted by a triple of six wins. After the title-winning 2019/20 season and last season, they could deliver an optimal group stage for the third time. “18 points in the group would be really strong,” said Nagelsmann. Three times six wins, no team has ever achieved that in the most important European club competition.
