Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia
United Arab Emirates

"Manuel Neuer is the best goalkeeper in the world" - Julian Nagelsmann

bundesliga.com, 19 November 2021, 18:05
Manuel Neuer should be keeping the Bayern Munich and Germany goals clean for many years to come, according to the coach of the record champions Julian Nagelsmann.

Neuer, 35, has been in outstanding form once again this season, with Bayern boasting the second-best defensive record in the Bundesliga, with just 11 goals conceded in as many games, and the best record in the UEFA Champions League with just two goals conceded and three clean sheets.

He is also one of only 13 players with over 100 caps for Germany and helped Die Mannschaft march through qualifying as the first nation other than hosts Qatar to qualify for next winter's FIFA World Cup.

He has fought his way back from two serious foot injuries, but is looking as good as ever, and Nagelsmann has no doubt that he will continue to be the best in the business for many years to come.

"We have the best goalkeeper in the world and we're really happy with him," Nagelsmann said. "I would not want to take him out of our goal for as long as he is fit and still wants to play.

"The way I know Manu, he's not the sort who would voluntarily sit out any game, and he's 99.9 per cent fit."

Nagelsmann has been able to rely heavily on his No.1 and captain this season, and his performance in their last game before the international break only confirmed how important he is to the club.

"In my eyes, he's still without a shadow of a doubt by far and away the best goalkeeper in the world," Nagelsmann said after Matchday 11's 2-1 win over Freiburg. "He's outstanding with his feet and we saw again today how extraordinary he was in saving their free-kick, which would otherwise have been an equaliser.

"I was really looking forward to working with him because I'd only ever seen him in games against Bayern and on TV and I was curious to see how lively and active he is. He's a similar age to me and he's incredibly fast and incredibly reactive. You would never in a million years guess that he's 35.

"He's got an extremely positive character and is always active. He's already saved us points many times this season and that's why he's still the best goalkeeper in the world."

Neuer is recognised as having transformed the role of the goalkeeper since emerging with his more involved style of goalkeeping.

Speaking to BBC Radio, former Bayern teammate and fellow World Cup winner with Germany in 2014 Bastian Schweinsteiger showed no hesitation in naming Neuer as the best player he had ever played with.

"He changed the game so much and when you have him behind you in goal, you can create a different kind of game," Schweinsteiger said. "First of all he's a good goalkeeper, and then he's a great footballer.

"He's so fast - he was faster than me. With him at the back, you could just play higher up the field - you knew there was a man behind you who could just play as a sweeper or the last man, and he dribbles sometimes against strikers and it's incredible.

"He does amazing things with his hands and can throw like 50 yards into the feet of [Arjen] Robben, for example.

"For as long as Manu Neuer keeps playing, he will be the best in the world."

That looks likely to be many more years to come, with Neuer showing no sign of loosening the velcro on his gloves and abdicating from his position as the best goalkeeper on the planet.

Show more

Top News

22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly decided to target Stuttgart midfielder Enzo Millot in the summer transfer window. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Peru can leapfrog Venezuela for eighth in CONMEBOL World Cup 2026 qualifying on Tuesday when they travel to Estadio Monumental de Maturin on matchday 14. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly reluctant to extend Diogo Jota's deal at Anfield and are said to be growing increasingly frustrated by the forward. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo has told Rasmus Hojlund he aims to celebrate in front of the Denmark striker in Sunday's crunch Nations League tie. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has received a boost as Wolverhampton Wanderers' Matheus Cunha's ban has been extended to four games, meaning he will miss his side's next two fixtures. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Everton Women star Rikke Madsen won't forget her team's 3-0 win over Crystal Palace any time soon. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo is the most lethal goalscorer in history - but Lionel Messi edges him in the never-ending 'greatest of all time' debate. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool may have one hand firmly on the Premier League trophy, but more recent matches have shown that the Reds board cannot rest on their laurels during the summer transfer window. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk After a disappointing start to World Cup qualifying, Romania will look to get their campaign up and running when they visit Serravalle to face minnows San Marino on Monday night. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two nations who made the perfect start to World Cup qualifying meet in Zenica on Monday night when Bosnia-Herzegovina host Cyprus. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly among three Premier League teams to have taken an interest in signing Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney this summer. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly received a significant boost in their efforts to sign Rayan Cherki, whom Lyon have decided to sell in the summer transfer window. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has reportedly made a final decision on whether he plans to re-integrate Marcus Rashford into his squad this summer. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Manchester United have been told to seek wisdom from darts sensation Luke Littler over how to handle high-pressure situations. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Peter Crouch has scored his first goals for Liverpool in nearly 17 years and he made sure to celebrate accordingly. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's reported capacity to purchase a new striker in the summer transfer window is in excess of £100m due to their good financial health. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Newcastle United will have a special Carabao Cup trophy parade next weekend after ending 70 years of hurt. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Newcastle United will finally get their trophy-winning party in front the Toon Army. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are set to be active during this summer's transfer window, as the recently-appointed Ruben Amorim looks to bring in players capable of thriving in his 3-4-3 system. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate reportedly has no release clause in his current contract amidst interest from Real Madrid in his signature. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are facing a centre-back crisis for their La Liga match against Osasuna next week, with Inigo Martinez, Pau Cubarsi, Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen potentially all missing the rescheduled fixture. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Another consolation silver medal is waiting for Arsenal at the 2024-25 Premier League finish line, as Mikel Arteta and co bemoan injuries, suspensions and fatal - yet avoidable - transfer mistakes. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly begun initial talks with Napoli over the possible transfer of Rasmus Hojlund to the Serie A club in the summer transfer window. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are expected to move for at least one central midfielder during this summer's transfer window. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Twelve years may have passed, but Franck Ribery is still not over his 2013 Ballon d'Or snub. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Chelsea are not familiar with quiet summer transfer windows and as it stands, there's no sign of bucking the trend in 2025. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Walsall boss Mat Sadler claimed the decision not to request a postponement this afternoon was 'out of' the club's hands. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona would reportedly be willing to let Raphinha leave during this summer's transfer window if an offer of €120m (£101m) were to arrive, with Manchester United said to be keen to sign the attacker. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Suggestions that Liverpool's season would be disappointing if they only win the Premier League title are ludicrous, Reds expert David Lynch has argued. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea winger Noni Madueke has apparently emerged as a potential transfer target for AC Milan, who took Joao Felix off of the Blues' hands in the January transfer window.