Manuel Neuer was again the rock in goal for Bayern as he skippered the team to a commanding 4-0 win against 1. FC Union Berlin - one that also meant a new "fabled record" for the captain, as coach Julian Nagelsmann described it. With his 311th win in his 460th Bundesliga appearance, Neuer has overtaken Oliver Kahn and holds the record outright for the most wins in German top flight.
Kahn: Manuel an absolute phenomenon
"Manuel is the typical example of the culture at FC Bayern,” said CEO Kahn on the five-time World’s Best Goalkeeper, who’s now replaced him as the record winner in the competition. “He’s very greedy when it comes to titles, records and also personal accolades. Manuel is an absolute phenomenon. He’s the captain. He’s very important when he stands on the pitch as leader."
“Manuel is among the most important players in Bayern history and the greatest goalkeepers in world football.”
Hasan Salihamidžić
Hasan Salihamidžić is also impressed by the performances that the shot-stopper is still producing in his 11th season in a Bayern shirt. “Manuel has changed the goalkeeping game like no other goalkeeper before him. He’s been playing consistently at a world-class level for more than a decade, he’s won everything with FC Bayern that there is to win, he’s won the World Cup and is now also a Bundesliga record holder,” said the club’s board member for sport. “Manuel is among the most important players in Bayern history and the greatest goalkeepers in world football. We’re glad he’s our captain, a role model on and off the pitch.”
"Not just anyone saves those"
Neuer helped keep a clean sheet against Union thanks to his superb save in the 21st minute.
The FCB No. 1 absolutely wanted to hang onto this special win. That was the only way to interpret his incredible reaction stop in the 21st minute of the meeting against the Berliners. With the match finely poised at 1-0, the 35-year-old pulled out an outstanding reflex save down to his corner to deny Robin Knoche and keep Bayern ahead. “The save against Knoche is extraordinary. Not just anyone saves those,” said an astonished Nagelsmann afterwards. Kahn also raved about it in an interview with ZDF: "He had knee surgery not long ago, and then he gets down to claw that away in absolutely world-class manner."
Neuer’s hunt for victories continues after the international break. And the man who knows the feeling of winning in the Bundesliga better than anyone will want to end the season with the Meisterschale in his hands.
Reaction to the victory over Union:
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