The German team is preparing for a stage without its two classic goalkeepers of recent years: Manuel Neuerwho in August announced his retirement from the ‘Mannschaft’ at the age of 38, and Marc ter Stegenwho will be out for about eight months at the age of 32 due to the serious injury to his right knee that he suffered in Villarreal-Barça, a rupture of the patellar tendon. The Bayern goalkeeper has been the undisputed starter in major events since 2009, with 124 caps, and the Blaugrana had to settle for being his usual substitute, despite everything adding 42 caps. Now he was finally number 1.
In recent days there has been speculation in Germany about the possibility that Neuer will reconsider his retirement due to the injury of Ter Stegen. The Bayern goalkeeper was asked about it at the end of the Bundesliga’s Bayern Munich-Bayer Leverkusen (1-1) and his answer does not seem to indicate a return to the national team, as he cited four candidates: “There is no reason to worry. With Oli Baumann (Hoffenheim, 34 years old) and Alex Nubel (Stuttgart, 27 years old) we have at least two great goalkeepers. They are also Bernard Leno (Fulham, 32 years old) and Kevin Trapp (Eintracht, 34 years old), who is now injured.”
Also the midfielder Joshua Kimmich (29 years old) talked about possible substitutes for Ter Stegenalthough he washed his hands: “It’s very difficult to judge him now. I’m going to be completely honest. I don’t know enough about the goalkeeper position. I can’t judge him well enough. Of course we will miss him a lot. Mark“.
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