Jonas Urbig talks about his role at FC Bayern, the competition with Manuel Neuer, and the special atmosphere within the goalkeeping group. The young player doesn’t see the internal competition as a burden, but rather as motivation.
After Manuel Neuer extended his contract for another year, Kompany made it clear that Neuer remains the number one goalkeeper for Bayern.
Nevertheless, it’s clear that Jonas Urbig is also expected to get playing time and continue to be groomed as Neuer’s successor. Ahead of the friendly against Aston Villa, Urbig spoke about his relationship with Neuer and Sven Ulreich.
“I think Manu once said on the national team that we’re rivals and friends at the same time. That’s how I’d describe the relationship within the goalkeeping group as a whole: On the field, we support and motivate each other, and off the field, we share personal interests,” explained the 22-year-old.
„We’re a close-knit group, and we’ll make sure it stays that way,“ Urbig added.
Ahead of the upcoming friendly against reigning Europa League champion Aston Villa, Urbig also emphasized the high expectations placed on every Bayern player. For him, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a friendly or a competitive match.
“Anyone who wears the FC Bayern jersey must always give 100%. Whether it’s a friendly or a competitive match, a Bundesliga or Champions League game: You approach every match the same way, with the same attitude, the same conviction, and the same sense of responsibility. That’s why the match against Aston Villa will be a real test of our mettle, one in which we want to continue improving.”
World Cup experience as an important step
For Urbig, the World Cup was also a special experience. Although the 22-year-old wasn’t part of the German national team’s official roster, he traveled to the U.S. as a practice goalkeeper.
Although the tournament ended disappointingly for the German team, the goalkeeper was still able to gain valuable insights: “We were all eliminated together; I was part of the group. Still, it was an incredible experience for me; I got a taste of what it’s like to be in a tournament and learned a lot.”
Competition with Manuel Neuer, support within the goalkeeping group, and international experience—for Jonas Urbig, these are important building blocks on his path to establishing himself at FC Bayern in the long term.