Roman Weidenfeller’s face creases and his voice lowers, virtually wincing on the recollection. “Possibly it’s 35 when it begins. You aren’t as fast, not as quick as earlier than with the reactions.” He’s discussing his decline as a goalkeeper. It’s a painful reminiscence.
“You’re feeling it, you will have saved the ball,” provides Weidenfeller. “However then the stadium is crying and you might be considering, what has occurred? The ball is in. That is the sensation. Usually, it’s your ball and also you reserve it. However you do not reserve it. It’s the final seconds. It’s too late.”
The previous Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper is questioning whether or not his {old} Bundesliga rival and worldwide team-mate Manuel Neuer goes to rediscover the extent that noticed him turn into one of the best goalkeeper on the planet. At 37, it will be a problem.
Neuer is again within the Bayern Munich staff after lacking virtually a 12 months of soccer following a snowboarding accident in December. Some thought he wouldn’t return. However with Euro 2024 in Germany subsequent summer time, the motivation is there to proceed for membership and for nation.
It’s 16 years since Neuer made his Champions League debut, 9 since he grew to become a legend. His performances in profitable the World Cup for Germany in 2014 earned him a spot on the Ballon d’Or podium, the one goalkeeper to handle that within the final 17 years.
It’s not simply his high quality. There are numerous greats on this sport however what number of energetic gamers can declare to have modified the best way that the game is performed? Along with his confidence on the ball and, most importantly, his capability to race off his line, Neuer is in that bracket.
Eintracht Frankfurt’s Kevin Trapp was considered one of Neuer’s understudies within the Germany squad finally 12 months’s World Cup. Neuer did greater than encourage his goalkeeping, he modified it. “I grew up with Oliver Kahn and Jens Lehmann, their means of goalkeeping,” he explains.
Trapp believes Neuer modified goalkeeping in 2014. “He took it to a complete different degree. Since then, all people needs to be like Manu. Earlier than, you all the time needed to be a striker to attain objectives. That speaks for itself. You might see what else goalkeepers had been able to.”
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Eintracht Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp explains the affect of Manuel Neuer
For 4 seasons out of six between 2010 and 2016, Neuer got here out to comb up behind his defence greater than some other goalkeeper within the Champions League. Solely the emergence of Ederson and others like him imply he’s not such a statistical outlier.
However they’re a sign of his affect. The sport has modified dramatically throughout his profession. In his closing season at Schalke, there have been 2919 passes tried by goalkeepers inside their very own half within the Champions League. That determine reached 5537 final season.
The position of the goalkeeper has expanded, as Trapp explains.
“Earlier than, it was nearly being in your line, saving balls. Now it has turn into, I cannot say harder, however, extra advanced.” Now, the goalkeeper isn’t just a stopper however a sweeper and a playmaker. “Coaches ask extra of the goalkeeper now,” he says.
“Soccer grew to become very trendy so that you want the goalkeeper to be the eleventh participant.” It may make the distinction. “You’ll be able to clear issues earlier than they even occur in case you are good at anticipating, in the event you assist the staff by going for crosses, in case you are good along with your ft.”
Neuer, at his finest, did all of these issues and he did them higher. It may get him into hassle. However the accomplishments of him and his groups counsel that it was a calculated threat that paid off. “It helps extra usually than it causes a aim,” says Trapp.
Manuel Neuer and Kevin Trapp in coaching collectively for Germany in 2022
Can it’s taught?
“Manu is Manu, after all. However you may be taught it,” he provides.
“You simply must have the braveness to have an interest and open-minded. You want a coach who helps you. You additionally want a coach who accepts that if there occurs to be a mistake that’s OK, it’s a course of and also you be taught out of your errors.
“It doesn’t imply that you can be on the similar degree. That’s the reason Manu was for such a very long time one of the best goalkeeper on the planet.
“There are little particulars that make the distinction between world-class and, for instance, a traditional goalkeeper. I’m fairly certain that not just for me however for lots of goalkeepers who got here by in that era, Manu was their position mannequin, 100 per cent.”
All issues come to an finish, nonetheless.
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Highlights from Bayern Munich’s current 4-0 win over Borussia Dortmund
Trapp has seven caps for Germany, the latest of them coming in June whereas Neuer was injured. With Marc-Andre ter Stegen lengthy since established as Barcelona’s No 1, there may be competitors at worldwide degree. Neuer should present he is similar goalkeeper.
There was a sensible save to disclaim Marco Reus within the current win at Dortmund, a win that introduced Neuer his second consecutive Bundesliga clear sheet since his return. His {old} rival Weidenfeller thinks Neuer has nothing to show when it comes to his legacy.
“He’s in that [group] with Schmeichel, Kahn, Buffon. One of many greatest goalkeepers on the planet.” However Weidenfeller is aware of from his personal expertise that Neuer isn’t just battling Trapp and Ter Stegen. He’s now in one other battle. One which no one can win.
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“After all, you all the time work at your reactions on the machines, with the brand new expertise. However the organic clock is ticking. It’s. And also you all the time want the rhythm of each seven days, and even each three days within the Champions League and the Bundesliga.
“However when you’re injured and lose that rhythm, and you might be coming again like Neuer simply now, it is extremely sophisticated. I cross my fingers that he’ll do it and play subsequent 12 months on the European Championship. However we’ll see how his physique feels after Christmas.”
If he can keep match, if he can present that the {old} swagger remains to be there, Neuer may but earn himself the ending that his profession deserves. “He has to look what the physique is telling him,” says Weidenfeller. “After all, he has the possibility. However I believe that’s a very long time away.”