After the dreadful night in Barcelona on matchday two of the Champions League, Bayern Munich have recovered well. They have won three games in a row since losing 4-1 against Barcelona. Crucially, Bayern have kept clean sheets in all of their three games since the visit to Spain in the Champions League.
Manuel Neuer has started in the goal in the last three games for Bayern. He has been subject to intense criticism after making poor decisions in the goal during the games against Eintracht Frankfurt and FC Barcelona.
Bayern legend Lothar Matthaus specifically insisted that Neuer’s shot-stopping is not the same as it used to be, and he is hesitating in making decisions. The club chiefs have publicly backed Neuer amidst criticism from media and pundits in Germany.
After helping Bayern win 3-0 against Union Berlin on Saturday, Neuer responded to the criticism aimed at him in the last few weeks. While talking to Sport1, the 38-year-old goalkeeper insisted that he is in good form and goals conceded by him were high-quality chances.
"I haven't paid any attention to the criticism. It's always about the quality of the chances when it comes to the goals we've conceded. That's why the stats don't matter for me at all, but rather each situation on its own. I think I'm in good form."Manuel Neuer
Neuer has been an exceptional goalkeeper for Bayern. His ability on the ball is still one of the best in Europe. However, there is an increase in errors from the German veteran, which is understandable since he will be 39 next time. The sharp reflexes decline, and execution of risky moves in the goal are not on point.
Despite these concerns, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Neuer regains his best form due to his incredible mentality that has helped him to thrive at the top level for more than a decade. The Bavarian faithful will hope Neuer plays a crucial role for Kompany’s team and helps the club win silverware this season after a trophyless last campaign.
Bayern will take time to make decision on Neuer’s future
Bayern Munich have a decision to make regarding Neuer’s future. The German goalkeeper has eight months left on his contract. The Bavarian club was previously looking to define his future by the end of the year, but Bild (via iMiaSanMia) recently reported that they will make a decision later in the season.
Alexander Nubel is the favourite to succeed Neuer at Bayern. The 27-year-old delivered another exceptional performance on Saturday to help VfB Stuttgart clinch a point against defending champions Bayer Leverkusen. Nubel extended his contract until 2029 earlier this year and agreed to go out on loan to Stuttgart for two more years. Bayern reportedly have a break option in the loan deal. The club may activate this option if Neuer decides to retire at the end of the season.