Neuer or ter Stegen: Rangnick sees "luxury problem"
Austria's national soccer coach Ralf Rangnick firmly believes that Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will make a comeback in the German squad and at the European Championship this summer. Former Bundesliga coach Rangnick believes that national coach Julian Nagelsmann will face "a luxury problem" next year when he has to choose between 37-year-old Neuer and his rival Marc-André ter Stegen (31) from FC Barcelona as Germany's number one. "It's certainly not easy for Julian to decide," said studio guest Rangnick on Wednesday evening in the ZDF program on the fifth group match day of the Champions League.
Neuer, once again convincing, had saved FC Bayern from defeat with a double save in the 88th minute in only his seventh game since suffering a protracted leg fracture in the 0-0 draw against FC Copenhagen. "I'm really pleased that he's back. It's great that he's managed to come back after such a serious injury. For him, for Bayern, but also for the German national team," said Rangnick and concluded: "I have every confidence in him that he will come back."
This is also a declared goal of long-time DFB regular goalkeeper Neuer for 2024 and the home tournament in June and July. "We all assume that if everything goes normally, I'll be back then," said Neuer himself on Wednesday evening with a view to the upcoming international matches at the end of March: "The signs aren't bad."
Neuer was not yet back in the DFB squad for the recent defeats in Berlin against Turkey (2:3) and in Vienna against Rangnick's Austria (0:2). In both games, Frankfurt's Kevin Trapp was in goal because ter Stegen was out due to back problems.
Rangnick expects a highly motivated Neuer with a view to the DFB team in 2024: "Manu has already indicated that - if he stays fit and healthy - he would also like to play there again and play the EURO in his own country."
- Despite FC Copenhagen challenging him with a tough game, Neuer's excellent performance in the Champions League showcased his determination to regain his spot in the German national team for the European Championship (EM) in 2024.
- Regarding the 2024 EM, Rangnick highlighted that both Neuer and ter Stegen, with their impressive careers in the German national team and the Champions League, respectively for FC Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona, will present a "luxury problem" for the Germany's next national team coach.
- In the 2021-2022 Champions League, FC Bayern Munich and FC Copenhagen will face each other again, offering an opportunity for Neuer to display his skills against his potential future opponent in the EM 2024, ter Stegen.
Source: www.dpa.com
