Bayern Munich: Joachim Low expects Manuel Neuer to be fit for World Cup
German national team manager Joachim Low is confident that Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will be fit enough to feature in the World Cup.
Manuel Neuer missed most of this past season with Bayern Munich due to injury. The 32-year-old goalkeeper has been included in Germany’s provisional squad despite not playing for more than six months.
Jupp Heynckes included Neuer in the squad against Eintracht Frankfurt in the DFB Pokal final last weekend. The club captain was an unused substitute, as Heynckes admitted that he was not ready to start yet. While speaking with Bild (via Goal), Joachim Low expressed confidence that Germany’s number one would be fit for the World Cup this summer.
"“I’m optimistic and I assume that Manuel Neuer is able to make it.“He has now been back in Bayern’s training for more than two weeks and has reached the maximum load of physical demand. I think he can maintain this load in our training camp.”"
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Low also added that the goalkeeper will finally make an honest call whether he will be fit to help the team next month. Apart from Manuel Neuer, Jerome Boateng is also fighting to get fit ahead of the World Cup. Boateng has been included in Germany’s provisional squad and is confident that he will be able to play in Russia.
Neuer suffered a foot injury in April last year which kept him out for four months. He was not able to go on the club’s pre-season tour. The Bavarians were without their captain for the initial games of this past season. However, Neuer made a return in late August and played four games for the German champions before succumbing to the same injury in training.
The German was expected to return in January and help Bayern in the knockout stages of the Champions League. However, Neuer needed more time than was initially expected. He was anticipating a longer layoff after a complete diagnosis of the injury. As a result, the Bayern captain was not able to play for the rest of the season.
Sven Ulreich stepped up in the absence of Neuer. Ulreich had a shaky start to the campaign, but after the arrival of Jupp Heynckes he kept on improving. The former VfB Stuttgart goalkeeper was considering a move away from the club just last year. But his solid performances were eventually rewarded with a new contract in Munich.
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Bayern Munich will be hoping that Germany don’t rush Neuer into action. He is 32 now and another injury setback will only shorten his career. Low has a fantastic set of goalkeepers at his disposal. If Neuer is not able to prove his fitness, then Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen is likely to be Germany’s number one in Russia. However, Neuer will be eager to lead his country in the World Cup for one last time.