Manuel Neuer is once again causing concern for FC Bayern. The 40-year-old continues to struggle with foot problems. After the Champions League victory at Atlético Madrid, the Bayern captain himself reported ongoing discomfort. As a result, Jonas Urbig could see significantly more playing time.
From a sporting perspective, the Champions League match in Madrid went nearly perfectly for FC Bayern. The Munich team defeated Atlético 2-0 and impressed in particular with a cohesive team performance. For Manuel Neuer, however, it was not an entirely worry-free evening.
As Sky reporter Kerry Hau reported in the “Mia san vier” podcast, the Bayern captain continued to struggle with physical discomfort even after the match. According to Hau, his foot was causing him problems even during everyday movements.
“He already said yesterday after the game that he was having foot problems again, even when walking,” Hau explained. The reporter therefore assumes that the issues could continue to bother the record champions for some time.
Hoffmann expects Urbig to see significantly more playing time
Sky expert Torben Hoffmann also views the situation with concern. For the former Bundesliga pro, however, this development comes as no surprise. He had previously expressed doubts—given Neuer’s age, his injury history, and the heavy workload—that the goalkeeper would be able to complete an entire season without interruption.
Hoffmann is therefore convinced that backup goalkeeper Jonas Urbig will be between the posts more often in the coming months than originally anticipated. “I’m convinced he’ll get more playing time than some people might have actually thought,” emphasized the 52-year-old.
Hau went even a step further in the discussion and raised the possibility that Urbig could play in more games than Neuer by the end of the season.
Neuer confirms ongoing problems
Neuer himself commented on his health after the game: “It hasn’t been an easy situation for me over the last few days. I’ve been in pain when walking the past few days, including this morning,” Neuer revealed on Prime Video.
The goalkeeper thus made it clear that he hadn’t been completely pain-free even on game day. “I was in pain this morning as well, but our medical staff did everything they could to make sure I could play today. That makes me really happy.”
It remains to be seen how the renewed strain will affect his foot.
After all, Munich has Urbig, a goalkeeper who has already proven his potential on multiple occasions. The relationship between Neuer and his young challenger is also considered to be good. Urbig has already made nine appearances this season—two more than Manuel Neuer.
For FC Bayern, the goalkeeper question could thus take on new significance in the coming weeks. The key factors will be how Neuer’s foot problems develop and whether the veteran can sustain the demands of the upcoming matches in the long term.