The goalkeeper question continues to preoccupy the German national team even under Jürgen Klopp. No undisputed number one has yet emerged following Manuel Neuer’s departure. However, a young Bayern goalkeeper, Jonas Urbig, is increasingly coming to the forefront.
On Thursday evening, the 23-year-old made his debut for the German senior national team in a 2-0 win over Serbia. Urbig kept a clean sheet and, thanks to the strong performance of his teammates in front of him, had a relatively quiet evening overall.
If Bernd Leno has his way, however, the Bayern pro shouldn’t just be one option in the DFB goal in the long run. The 34-year-old has surprisingly and unequivocally spoken out in favor of Urbig as the future number one.
Leno: “The choice should be Jonas Urbig.”
“In my opinion, there are some young, talented guys coming up,” Leno explained in an interview with newspapers from the Funke Media Group. For him, however, the search for a long-term solution leads primarily to Munich.
“Looking at it from the outside, I’d say the goalkeeper will come from FC Bayern because they currently have the best goalkeepers. In my view, the choice should be Jonas Urbig,” the former German national team goalkeeper urged Klopp.
Leno already sees many qualities in Urbig that would allow him to establish himself permanently as the DFB’s starting goalkeeper. At the same time, the 23-year-old must be carefully guided into this role.
“He needs to be prepared to be the number one in the future. What I see in him is very impressive. He’s very talented, has excellent reflexes, and, above all, is courageous,” Leno raved about the Bayern keeper.
The Fulham pro also described Noah Atubolu as “very talented.” Marc-André ter Stegen also remains among the candidates for the DFB’s number one spot.
An unusual dynamic between Leno and Urbig
Leno’s comments are particularly interesting in light of his own future. The 34-year-old is currently being linked with FC Bayern himself. With Neuer potentially nearing the end of his career, the Munich club is looking ahead for an experienced goalkeeper who could settle into the role behind Urbig.
This means that Leno, of all people, could end up as the backup for the very goalkeeper he is now publicly recommending as Germany’s future number one.
Leno also thinks highly of the new national team coach. “I have to say, I have high hopes for Jürgen, because he can usher in a new era in German soccer,” explained the former Arsenal goalkeeper.
Germany needs a coach “who creates a good atmosphere in the national team—a coach who unites the people and fans behind the team.”
That’s exactly what Leno believes Klopp is capable of: “The players respect him. They appreciate him as a person and as a coach.”
In any case, Leno has already made his recommendation regarding the most important personnel decision for the German goal. In his view, Jonas Urbig should be the long-term future between the posts.