It was to be feared: Manuel Neuer’s substitution at halftime in the 4-1 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach was not a precautionary measure, but the beginning of another enforced break.
As FC Bayern announced on Saturday afternoon, captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has suffered another minor muscle tear in his left calf and will be out of action “for the time being.” The record champions did not specify how long he would be out, but one thing is clear: Jonas Urbig will be in goal for Bayern at least for the important Champions League round of 16 first leg at Atalanta Bergamo on Tuesday evening (9 p.m.).
Neuer had only made his comeback on Friday after a three-week break and seemed to have overcome the muscle injury he sustained in the game against Werder Bremen (3-0). Nothing stood out during the game, but he remained in the dressing room at half-time against Gladbach (4-1), with Urbig taking over. There is no doubt that the injuries to Neuer, who celebrates his 40th birthday on March 27, are increasing.
This puts Urbig back in the spotlight in Bergamo, but he is used to this and is about to make his twelfth competitive appearance of the season. Against Gladbach, he was largely unemployed, like Neuer, and powerless to prevent the late goal. The 22-year-old has the experience of five games in the Champions League, four of them in last season’s knockout stages.
At that time, Urbig kept a clean sheet against Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16 (3-0 and 2-0), but he was unable to prevent elimination one round later against Inter Milan (1-2, 2-2). This season, he was given the chance to play in the 2-1 away win in Eindhoven on the last matchday of the league phase and impressed with a world-class performance. Urbig enjoys trust and appreciation within the club.
Question mark over Neuer’s future
It remains to be seen whether the former Cologne player will become the number one for the new season. Neuer’s contract is expiring, and the club would like to extend it for another season. But does Neuer want to? He will at least listen very carefully to his body before making a decision. As of the beginning of last week, he had not yet sought a conversation with those responsible. They, in turn, are giving Neuer time, but would like a decision in the spring because, if he ends his career, they will have to find an experienced number two to complement Urbig in the squad. Neither Alexander Nübel (VfB Stuttgart) nor Daniel Peretz (FC Southampton) are being considered for this role. Thoughts about the future. In the present, Urbig is in goal, Sven Ulreich (whose contract is also expiring) is the substitute, and Neuer has to work on his comeback again.
