Manuel Neuer: What’s behind Bayern Munich captain’s public feud with the German champions? | Soccer News

Bayern Munich sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic has said the club will speak to captain Manuel Neuer after criticizing the German champions over the decision to release goalkeeping coach Toni Tapalovic.

Neuer, who was sidelined for the rest of the season after breaking his leg on a skiing trip after Germany were eliminated from the World Cup, said he had feeling like his ‘heart was ripped out’ after being told his close friend was fired after more than a decade at the club.

The Bayern skipper dismissed reports that Tapalovic was leaking information from the coaching staff and said he told the club’s hierarchy he disagreed with the reasons given for the 42-year-old’s dismissal years.

“That shot hit me extremely hard,” Neuer said. athleticism. “The club officials told me. It came out of nowhere. For Toni too. I didn’t understand that at all. It really blew me away.

“Toni was always a team player with us, everyone saw it that way. He didn’t work for me for eleven and a half years, but for the whole group of goalkeepers, for the technical staff and for the club. We have always been able to separate work and private life. I understand that this may not seem to be objective or not credible, but I can really make a difference.

“For me, it was a blow – when I was already on the ground. It felt like my heart was being ripped out. It was the most brutal thing I’ve experienced in my career. And I ‘ve been through a lot.

“There was no reason that I could understand. Things were said that I don’t agree with. Nothing I heard would have ruled out the possibility of people talking to each other and settling disputes. things.

“It’s about the human side of things, the way a valued employee was treated. At Bayern Munich, we want to be different – a family. And then something happens that I’ve never experienced before. is a sad thing for everyone: for the club, for Tapa, the staff and all the goalkeepers, including me. Nevertheless, I want to say: I am a human being on the one hand, and I am a professional football player. ‘other.

Over the weekend, Bayern CEO Oliver Kahn slammed Neuer for his comments and Salihamidzic said the 36-year-old had “put his personal interests here above the interests of the club”.

Salihamidzic said Picture: “I understand that Manuel is personally affected. But I would have expected a different behavior from him, especially as captain. [The] Tapalovic’s decision, which was also difficult for us personally, had nothing to do with Manuel in this matter, and we explained it to him.

“If there are any consequences, we will first talk to Manuel himself about them. The disappointment he describes about the release of Tapa also prevails with us because Manuel has placed his personal interests here above the interests of the club. But we will do this internally and discuss it reasonably with him.

On January 23, Bayern released a statement saying Tapalovic had been dismissed “with immediate effect”.

Salihamidzic said in the statement: “As a goalkeeper coach, Toni has been involved in the successes of the past few years. We would like to thank him for that. The differences, especially on how we worked together , have now led us to part ways. . We wish Toni Tapalovic all the best for the future.”