Calf injury: Manuel Neuer is also out against Finland

He was asked about Manuel Neuer, who will be playing in the friendly against Finland in Mainz next Sunday not will be in the goal. The coaching team decided not to take any risks. The injury is a “small hardening,” says Nagelsmann. Oliver Baumann, just replaced by Neuer as number one, will replace Manuel Neuer as number one in Mainz. Even for the final test match against the USA on June 6th in Chicago, Nagelsmann did not want to give a guarantee for Neuer, saying that they would “then decide what it looks like”. It is important to play in the first group game.

The fact that the reporter’s question about whether there was anything to worry about was justified can be seen from the national coach’s answers. But it is also due to the entire communication around the nation’s new calf. After Neuer had to be substituted in the 60th minute of the 34th Bundesliga matchday against Cologne, FC Bayern’s first statement said that he would “take a step back for the time being”. The fact that the injury could be worse than this wording suggests became clear the evening after the Cologne game, when Nagelsmann was unable to make any statements about Neuer in the gym. DFB sports director Rudi Völler indirectly confirmed that this was the case this Wednesday in Herzogenaurach.

Neuer was also ruled out for the DFB Cup final last Saturday. There was reason for optimism that he then carried out his duties as captain and his calf could at least withstand lifting the gold trophy and careful jumping for joy. But now the cancellation for Finland and the small question mark for the game against the USA.

Neuer has already been sidelined twice this season due to muscle problems in his calf. In both the league game against Werder Bremen and Mönchengladbach he had to be substituted for Jonas Urbig at halftime. He missed the two Champions League games against Bergamo. After his fantastic performance in the Champions League game against Real Madrid, Neuer downplayed the severity: These injuries were “not bad at all.” More like a “cold in the calf”. Now it’s at least a persistent cold.