Bayern Munich announce new goalkeeper coach after Manuel Neuer saga | OneFootball

Bayern Munich have brought in a new goalkeeping coach by bringing in Michael Rechner from Hoffenheim.

The news was confirmed on Wednesday and brings to an end a 15-year stint in that role for the 42-year-old in Sinsheim.

It is a position that Bayern have needed to fill after the surprise sacking of Toni Tapalović, who in addition to serving as coach to the club’s goalkeepers, is also a close personal friend of Manuel Neuer.

But he was dismissed on January 23 while the Germany international was recuperating from a broken leg he suffered while on a post-World Cup skiing trip.

That led to Neuer publicly slamming the club’s decision as ‘the worst thing I have experienced in my professional career’ in an interview with The Athletic last week.

Bayern themselves have since responded, with several club figures now also responding sternly to their sidelined star through the media.

“The comments don’t do justice to either him as captain or to the club and the values we uphold,” Oliver Kahn told DPA. “We want to focus instead on our important games ahead.”

“I wouldn’t have given the interview if I was Manuel,” stated coach Julian Nagelsmann when asked for his thoughts. “He said in the interview that the club is his priority but this doesn’t calm things down.”

Bild also reported this week that due to Bayern being keen to keep their focus on Champions League duty and the challenge of PSG, any disciplinary action taken against Neuer will come after the second leg of that tie.