Neuer regains form, Bayern considers future in goal

The goalkeeping situation at Bayern Munich remains the focus of the German press. The Munich club has confirmed that its captain, Manuel Neuer, is in the final phase of his return from injury and could be registered for the match against Borussia Dortmund this weekend. The final decision, however, will be made after assessing his form in training. Bayern emphasizes that the player's health is the priority, not deadline pressure. Manuel Neuer, considered one of the best goalkeepers in history, underwent surgery at the end of last year after breaking his leg while skiing, which sidelined him for several months and raised doubts about his future career at the highest level. The topic of Neuer's potential successor is also gaining importance. In an interview for n-tv, legendary former player and captain of the German national team, Lothar Matthäus, expressed the opinion that Bayern should start thinking about the future in this position. He named Oliver Baumann from TSG Hoffenheim and Gregor Kobel from Borussia Dortmund as candidates. Matthäus admitted that the choice is difficult but necessary to ensure a smooth transition after Neuer's potential decision to retire. „Oliver Baumann ist ein sehr guter Torwart, genauso wie Gregor Kobel. Der FC Bayern muss sich jetzt überlegen, wer der Nachfolger von Manuel sein soll.” (Oliver Baumann is a very good goalkeeper, just like Gregor Kobel. FC Bayern must now consider who should be Manuel's successor.) — Lothar Matthäus Meanwhile, in Spain, another German coach is celebrating his small milestone. Hansi Flick, coach of FC Barcelona, has reached the mark of one hundred official matches on the Blaugrana bench. La Vanguardia quotes his words, in which Flick smiles and asks: "And why not?", referring to the possibility of leading the team in another hundred matches. La Razón publishes a comparison, matching Flick's statistics after one hundred matches with the results of his predecessors: Johan Cruyff, Pep Guardiola, and Luis Enrique. The analysis shows differences in the number of wins, draws, and losses, as well as the average points per match, providing insight into the scale of challenges facing the current coach in the context of the club's historical legacy. The decision to field Neuer in the clash with Borussia Dortmund is to be made after Friday's training sessions. The portal sportowefakty.wp.pl reports that the goalkeeper has been in a full training cycle with the team for some time, with the last obstacle to overcome being only some pain issues. The club is approaching the matter cautiously, not wanting to risk a recurrence of injury to its experienced captain. The match against Borussia Dortmund, one of the main rivals in the title race, is crucial for Bayern in the championship race. It seems that regardless of the decision regarding the upcoming match, Bayern's management will soon have to make a strategic decision regarding the goalkeeper position for the longer term. Matthäus's comments indicate that this topic is already being actively discussed in football circles. Meanwhile, Flick's stable situation in Barcelona, despite pressure and historical comparisons, shows that the German coach has managed to settle into one of the most demanding clubs in the world, and his future with the Catalan giant seems secure.