Criticism of Neuer comeback: Goalkeeping legend questions Nagelsmann | OneFootball

Manuel Neuer is back in the DFB team, leaving Oliver Baumann on the bench for the World Cup. But the debate about the goalkeeper is far from over, with Uli Stein openly questioning Julian Nagelsmann’s plan

In a kicker column, the 71-year-old criticized the keeper’s return from FC Bayern for the World Cup in Canada, the USA and Mexico. Stein expressly acknowledges Neuer’s importance for a team, but clearly separates this role from the sporting assessment in goal

Neuer is „not just anyone, but as a guy with his experience and aura, someone who can have a positive effect on processes internally and externally in the long period of being together in critical phases of the tournament. I haven’t seen this radiance and extra class in goal for a long time, which I don’t blame on a 40-year-old competitive athlete who has also recently found less and less rhythm due to injuries,“ Stein wrote

The chronology of his criticism is also clear. „Objectively“, Neuer’s performance at the 2022 Winter World Cup in Qatar was „no longer top class“, and Stein is also critical of his performance at the home World Cup two years later. After that, he said, he only saw a few games at the highest level

Baumann finds himself in a difficult role

photo: IMAGO

Stein’s harshest passage is directed against the sporting sense of the comeback. „In the two years since then, there have hardly been any highlight games, with the exception of the Champions League quarter-final in Madrid. Instead, many unfortunate actions and goals conceded, a lack of dynamism and explosiveness, perhaps somewhat concealed by his always calm body language,“ he wrote. His assessment was correspondingly clear: „Unfortunately, I see zero sense in it.“

Stein does not rule out a different outcome for the final round in North America, but remains sceptical: „If everything goes well and the national team’s performance justifies the fuss created in advance to some extent, I would be the last person not to say: I was wrong at the time. Today, however, I lack the belief that it will turn out that way.“ His criticism does not only apply to Neuer, but also to Nagelsmann’s handling of the hierarchy

Stein sees a mental burden for Oliver Baumann in particular. Baumann would have to move to the second line should Neuer be fit despite his calf ligament. Baumann was barely able to show himself in the 4:0 against Finland due to a lack of work. „Despite the withdrawal of confidence, possibly having to step up at the World Cup if Neuer doesn’t make it after all remains a considerable mental burden for him and the other goalkeepers travelling with him.“ Stein also emphasised that he would have had „no understanding“ for this communication in the past and „would not have flown“.