“The hype is too much for me”: Bayern legend Maier puts the brakes on the Urbig euphoria | OneFootball

Jonas Urbig is considered one of the most exciting German goalkeepers of his generation. At FC Bayern, the 23-year-old is expected to eventually succeed Manuel Neuer. He is also believed to have a bright future with the national team.

However, Urbig is not yet the number one in Munich. Neuer remains ahead of him, while at the DFB, Marc-André ter Stegen is initially slated to be the starting goalkeeper under Jürgen Klopp.

Bayern legend Sepp Maier is therefore skeptical about declaring Urbig the potential new German starting goalkeeper just yet. In an interview with the Abendzeitung München, the 1974 World Cup champion warned against setting expectations too high.

Urbig must first become the number one at Bayern

“The hype surrounding Urbig is too much for me. Not because I don’t think the kid is good—on the contrary. He has tremendous talent. But it’s all happening way too fast for me. A few good games, and suddenly he’s supposed to be Germany’s new number one. Why? Let him become the number one at FC Bayern first,” Maier explained.

In the current goalkeeper hierarchy, the 82-year-old therefore sees ter Stegen clearly ahead of the Bayern keeper. For Maier, Urbig is missing one thing above all else: regular playing time at the highest level.

“He needs to play, gain experience, make mistakes, play in the Champions League, and show that he can bounce back even after a bad game. You don’t become the national team goalkeeper based on a prediction.”

In principle, however, Maier doesn’t doubt Urbig’s abilities. “Someday—yes, maybe. He has what it takes. But there’s a world of difference between ‘someday’ and ‘now.’”

Maier: “Potential won’t stop a ball on Saturday.”

Photo: IMAGO

The former Bayern goalkeeper is particularly critical of the increasing focus on the potential of young players. For a goalkeeper, he says, experience is virtually irreplaceable.

“Games. It’s that simple. People talk way too much about potential these days. Potential won’t stop a ball on Saturday. You don’t gain experience in training, and you certainly don’t get it from everyone telling you how good you could become one day. You have to get in goal and deliver.”

Maier also finds it hard to imagine a German starting goalkeeper who is permanently just a backup at his club. “The German national team goalkeeper should normally be playing for his club as well. Especially in this position, you need to stay in the rhythm.”

Urbig’s long-term prospects still look promising, however. If Neuer ends his career this coming summer as expected, the 23-year-old could rise to become the number one at FC Bayern. For Maier, that would be exactly the crucial next step—before any discussion of the same role on the DFB national team even begins.