The 2014 world champion has faced the best players in the world and has learned to relish such tests in his career.
Manuel Neuer welcomes the “special challenge” of facing forwards such as Cristiano Ronaldo, with Bayern Munich goalkeeper saying he is not afraid of the best forwards in the world. The 2014 World Cup winner has grown accustomed to taking on the world’s elite during his distinguished career. Along with Bayern and Germany, the 34-year-old goalkeeper played at the highest level and won just about every major title they could win.
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Manuel Neuer’s reputation often precedes him, which allows him to get into the minds of his opponents, even that of five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who receives the same treatment as any other opponent. The Bayern goalkeeper told magazine 51 he loved taking on the former Manchester United and Real Madrid superstar who remain a formidable foe: “The difference is that I know Cristiano Ronaldo better than many others after our many duels”.
“I’m not saying, ‘Oh, here is Ronaldo, I must be scared.“, added the German. Manuel Neuer added on the” special challenge “posed by the” game of the mind “in head-to-head as opposing forwards approached his goal:”Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like situations like this. I mainly think of the team, but if I can prove myself, I want to be there“.
Manuel Neuer is considered to be the epitome of what a modern goalkeeper is, with the iconic German goalkeeper having been as reliable a keeper with his feet as with his hands long before goalkeeper kicking became as important as it is now. He added on the mindset he has adopted throughout his remarkable career: “The forward is the first defender, they always say – I think the goalkeeper should be the first attacker these days.”
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Neuer considers it his duty to “control the space behind the defense” as a goalkeeper with a libero positioning, his efforts behind the defense allowing those in front of him to conserve energy as they need it most: “The fact that I’m practically an energy saver for the team in this way is one of the many positives on that side.”
Manuel Neuer, who helped Bayern Munich win another hat-trick in 2019-20, is still hungry for trophies in the 2020-2021 season. While the German goalkeeper will not be able to help his team perform as well as last season, as Hansi Flick’s side have already been eliminated in the German Cup, he will be keen to show himself in his best face in the Bundesliga, and especially in the Champions League to try to keep his European crown.
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