“Rambo” red: This is how Manuel Neuer reacts to FC Bayern’s cup exit

Manuel Neuer takes an unnecessary and fatal trip in the DFB Cup against Bayer Leverkusen. The FC Bayern goalkeeper checks Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong after 17 minutes. Neuer sees red and Munich is knocked out of the cup again.

Manuel Neuer had an astonishing record up until this Tuesday evening. The FC Bayern goalkeeper played 878 games as a professional and was never sent off the pitch. He was shown a yellow card 28 times but never saw red. But then the 17th minute came in the round of 16 of the DFB Cup and it ended fatally for Neuer and the Munich team. Because he actually sees the red card. He comes storming out of his goal and checks Jeremie Frimpong, the lightning-fast winger from Bayer Leverkusen. Frimpong was sent steeply and centrally towards the Bayern goal, flanked by two Munich defenders. But Neuer decided to intervene, his massive body slams into the small opponent.

Referee Harm Osmers didn’t hesitate for a second, he immediately reached into his back pocket. Neuer speaks briefly to the referee, but it doesn’t look like a massive complaint. The scene is too clear because the ball was not in play during the attack. That might have had a mitigating effect on the punishment. “It’s always difficult for a goalkeeper,” said national coach Julian Nagelsmann on ARD during halftime about the scene that ultimately decided the game. The strongly defending Leverkusen team, who were by no means the better team even when they had the majority, won the game 1-0 (0-0) with a joker goal from Nathan Tella (69th).

“No blame!” from Kimmich

There were no accusations from teammates after the bitter 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!” Rather, he struggled with the result despite the strong performance in his own arena: “It was our best performance. Of course it annoys me extremely that the first title is gone. The end is annoying, we all play football to win. But.” We are on the right track, even if the end hurts.

“He’s starting a bit too low – if he stays low he might have a brutal one-on-one, which isn’t pleasant either. But Konny Laimer is still relatively good in duels,” the national coach further analyzed. Ultimately it is “always a millimeter decision”, but the expulsion itself is “undisputed. Dominion of space is Manu’s greatest strength, in which case it might have been better to wait. But you’re always smarter in hindsight.” By 2014 at the latest, the goalkeeping game had become richer thanks to Neuer. “Manu, the libero” was born in the World Cup round of 16 against Algeria. With incredible timing, he saved the German national team from embarrassment several times. In the end the title was won, thanks to “Manu, the libero”. At that time, Neuer was at the peak of his creative power.

In the final against Argentina, however, he caused a stir with a tough move that was comparable to the check against Frimpong. In the penalty area he went all-in against Gonzalo Higuain, fisting the ball away but also mercilessly ramming the striker. However, this had no consequences. Now the situation is different. Neuer’s speed of action is decreasing. He is discussed and defended.

Career without a doubt on the home stretch

But the disaster took its course and FC Bayern continued its terrible series in the cup. Since the triumph in the 2019/20 season against Bayer Leverkusen (4:2), there have only been embarrassments and disappointments for the record winner. Among other things, against the then second division club Holstein Kiel and against the third division club 1. FC Saarbrücken. Despite the good performance when they were outnumbered, the narrow defeat is a first setback to Munich’s best season so far, especially in the Bundesliga.

The first of three title chances for Kompany and FC Bayern is gone. And perhaps this is Neuer’s last chance to win the trophy again, which he has won six times? His career is undoubtedly on the home stretch. On a very long one. The 38-year-old’s contract expires next summer, as does Thomas Müller’s. The old FC Bayern could collapse and the last heroes of two successful generations could leave. While the signs for Müller, who is less and less taken into consideration in terms of sport, especially given his top salary, are more likely to be a separation, it was reported for Neuer that the trend is towards an extension.

But a lot goes into the negotiations. Age, susceptibility and strength. Nothing is set in stone yet. Especially since Alexander Nübel, the successor at VfB Stuttgart, is maturing into a top man. He is on loan, actually it should be until 2026. But the Munich team could bring him back sooner, according to media reports. That makes it more relaxed for the club, but not necessarily for Neuer.

The ravages of time are gnawing at Neuer

This summer, after the home European Championship, he resigned from the national team. Even before the tournament, the voices were increasing: Is he really still the undisputed number one? But only then did Neuer clear the way for his permanent replacement Marc-André ter Stegen. The story then continued dramatically. Extremely relieved and in a great mood that he could no longer only shine for FC Barcelona, ​​but also for Germany, he was quickly brutally ripped to the ground. He was seriously injured and will be out for the rest of the season.

Neuer was also seriously injured two years ago. After the World Cup debacle, Qatar went on a momentous ski trip and fell. The suffering dragged on forever, accompanied by the anxious question: Will he be the same again? Will he ever again? He became, perhaps not quite the same as before, but definitely the undisputed number one again. But age has increasingly taken its toll on Neuer in the past few weeks and months. The untenables he had previously held were suddenly untenable. And he repeatedly revealed weaknesses in the opening of the game. For example, in the top game in the Bundesliga last Saturday at Borussia Dortmund (1:1).

Peretz comes for Neuer, Sané goes

Coach Vincent Kompany has to react to Neuer’s attack against Leverkusen and brings in replacement Daniel Peretz. In order to ensure that he is outnumbered, he takes out field player Leroy Sané, who, like Neuer, is also fighting to stay in Munich beyond the summer. Sané accepts the decision without complaint. Sven Ulreich, Neuer’s actual replacement, is currently missing for personal reasons. Peretz hasn’t had much match practice in Munich so far, but he recently played and played for Israel in the Nations League.

After being sent off, the statics of the game change immediately. Bayer Leverkusen, surprisingly defensively positioned by coach Xabi Alonso, tried to gain more control. But Bayern remained toxic or even became more toxic, throwing themselves into every duel. It got hot and heated. Even before the Neuer scene, there was a first pack. There were a lot of fouls, a lot of discussions.

Neuer himself thinks the expulsion is “okay”

Kompany in particular always needed to talk, and was then warned by Osmers to take it easy on the sidelines. And he could certainly be satisfied with what he saw. Because the Munich team had the better chances. After 32 minutes, Konrad Laimer hit the ball into the side netting from close range. Afterwards, Leon Goretzka’s header was denied by Matej Kovar in the Bayer goal and then Granit In the second half, Munich stayed in the game without creating any top chances. The absence of top striker Harry Kane, injured against Dortmund, could not be compensated. Not even Michael Olise, who was called up as a substitute. Bayer defended cleverly without dominating. But then Tella came along, Peretz had no chance. In stoppage time, Olise narrowly missed for Bayern, after which the end was sealed.

And new one? “It wasn’t so easy to continue the game after the sending off,” he said on Sky after the final whistle. Of course already showered. “We have invested everything. The sending off hurts,” said Neuer. He had no doubts about the red card. “It wasn’t an action where I tried to actively help him. The fact that I don’t hit the ball makes it okay for me,” he explained. He didn’t even want to talk about the key scene in the Bayern dressing room. “Our colleagues know that. I’ve already apologized to one or the other on the pitch.” But in the end he was hoping for the VAR: Maybe an offside position, maybe something else? But there was nothing like that.