World Cup concerns about Manuel Neuer and Thomas Müller
Rand the visit to the arena by national coach Hansi Flick, the executive floor of FC Bayern Munich was concerned, doubts about a World Cup participation by the national goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and to disperse attacker Thomas Müller. Kahn commented after the 6:2 of Bayern against Mainz demonstratively optimistic that the two world champions from 2014 will overcome their current injury problems in time for the World Cup in Qatar, which begins on November 20th.
“I don’t think these are longer things,” said CEO Kahn on Saturday evening. Also with flick he had talked in the arena. The 36-year-old Neuer has now been out for six competitive Bayern games because of a painful injury to his shoulder joint. “You have to deal with that very intelligently,” remarked former national goalkeeper Kahn: “You have to be a bit careful not to put stress on it too early.”
miller once again has “a small muscular problem”, as reported by sports director Hasan Salihamidzic. Coach Julian Nagelsmann had announced that he would take the offensive player out of training and games for a week. According to media reports, the concern within the team about Müller’s participation in the World Cup is said to be greater than is communicated to the outside world, as the “Spiegel” writes, among others.
In the case of Neuer, he is not worried “for football Germany” with regard to the World Cup tournament, meanwhile announced Salihamidzic also with demonstrative confidence. Sven Ulreich, who represents Neuer in the Bayern goal, shared the same opinion after the Mainz game. “Manu is well on the way to recovery. I am assuming that he will play again before the World Cup and that he will make excellent games at the World Cup.”
DFB coach: World Cup squad is two-thirds certain
Neuer and Müller are very experienced and both really want to play a fourth World Cup. The national coach will nominate the DFB squad on November 10th. The considerations for this are already well advanced. As co-trainer Danny Röhl told the news portal t-online, “two-thirds of the players” are roughly certain. He also added: “For the rest, we’re also looking at players who play in multiple positions and can therefore be ‘hybrid players’ for us.”
Furthermore, Röhl considered it possible that some seasoned professionals might not jump on the World Cup train. “Sure, we have to reckon with that. It will be painful for some players. Everyone wants to go to the World Cup with Germany. But we have to think about what’s best for the squad,” he said. “Not only the tactical function plays a role, but also the interpersonal one. It’s about team leadership, energy and atmosphere.”
Meanwhile, Neuer knew “exactly how to deal with his body,” remarked Kahn. The captain will “just work his way up bit by bit”. Bayern still have four competitive games before the World Cup break. Nagelsmann had already said before the Mainz game that Neuer and Müller would also be missing in the Champions League against Inter Milan on Tuesday. The duo could be an issue again at the earliest next weekend in Berlin against Hertha BSC, but at the latest in the following home game against Werder Bremen.
