Manuel Neuer saw the red card early on.
IMAGO/DeFodi images

Because he supported his front men well in front of his own goal in the style of an eleventh field player and knew how to prevent opposing counterattacks, often riskily but usually fairly through good anticipation, Manuel Neuer earned the image of a “revolutionary” who embodied the “modern goalkeeping game”. no second. Meanwhile, the record-breaking national goalkeeper’s well-known “excursions” have become rarer.

On Tuesday evening, the 38-year-old rushed out of his goal to clear the ball in front of the lightning-fast Leverkusen Jeremie Frimpong. Prevent counterattacks before they become dangerous. But this time the Munich goalkeeper came too late, quickly cleared the Dutchman – and was shown a red card by referee Harm Osmers after just 17 minutes.

Early in the cup clash between the record cup winner and the reigning title holder (0-1), Neuer weakened his team – for the first time in his career. In his previous 740 (!) competitive games in club football and 124 appearances for the DFB team, Neuer was never sent off.

For Nagelsmann, the expulsion is “undisputed”

“It’s always difficult for a goalkeeper,” said national coach Julian Nagelsmann in the ARD to the scene of Neuer resigning from the national team. “He’s starting a bit too low – if he stays low he might have a brutal one-on-one, which isn’t pleasant either. But Konrad Laimer is still relatively good in duels.” Ultimately, it was “always a millimeter decision,” said Nagelsmann and called the expulsion “undisputed. Command of space is Manu’s greatest strength, in which case it might have been better to wait. But you’re always smarter in hindsight.”

In order to replace Neuer, Leroy Sané had to leave early. The actual number three, Daniel Peretz, came into the party for him. The 24-year-old is between the posts for the first time this season. The Israeli has only made two appearances for FCB since his move in the summer of 2023. Peretz had no chance when Leverkusen’s Nathan Tella scored the goal, which ultimately caused Munich’s elimination.

Neuer: “In the end you are powerless and have to accept what is decided”

“The sending off obviously hurts,” Neuer admitted after the 1-0 defeat Heaven to. “It’s not a really active situation now where I’m trying to hurt him. But the thing is, I didn’t really touch the ball. He runs into me and wants to accept it gratefully, but after I don’t hit the ball, is it okay with me? Initially he had hoped that Frimpong would be in an offside position, but this was not the case. “In the end you are powerless and have to accept what is decided.”

“Mr. Osmers said that it was an emergency brake,” said Bavaria’s sports director Max Eberl on the pay-TV channel. “For him it was the case that the Leverkusen player could run past and slot into the empty goal. We have to accept that. What is it called? If a goalkeeper runs out, he has to have it. He hesitated for a moment, so he comes. Maybe this touch is too late. And then he tries to go with his head. Then there is the contact and the crash, but okay, the referee made that decision.

Incidentally, the last FC Bayern goalkeeper to be sent off was José “Pepe” Reina. The Spaniard also left the field early on matchday 32 of the 2014/15 season against FC Augsburg. After just 13 minutes, Reina was given a shower. The Swabians also ultimately won 1-0 in Munich.