FC Bayern München showed a good reaction following their 3-1 defeat in the first leg of the Champions League quarter final against FC Porto, securing a deserved 2-0 victory at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Saturday. It was not a surprise for Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer. "We know what we are capable off and we know that we've already played good football this season," said the World Champion in an interview with DFB.de, in which he also looked ahead to the return leg with Porto on Tuesday in the Allianz Arena (20:45 CEST).
Question: Manuel Neuer, FC Bayern took another step towards the championship with a 2-0 win at Hoffenheim just days after suffering a 3-1 defeat in the Champions League and witnessing the club's physician, Dr. Müller-Wohlfahrt, resign. How was the team able to put all that behind them and focus on the game with Hoffenheim?
Manuel Neuer: We didn’t have any time to react to those headlines. After the Porto game, we landed in Munich on Thursday and on Friday we were back on the road heading towards Hoffenheim. We focused on being fit for this game and on producing a good performance. I think it was noticeable and we managed it quite well.
Question: But how do you block out the headlines?
Neuer: Everyone has their own way of doing it, but at the moment it's like this: We don't have time to think about it – and it's also not our area of concern. We players have to be fit for the games and we have to do everything we can to win the big games that are coming up in this time of the year. We lost just one important game in recent weeks – against Porto. But it's still within our own power to turn that encounter around.
Question: A 2-0 victory would be enough to book a semi final ticket. How will you approach the game on Tuesday with Porto?
Neuer: We showed a good performance today in Hoffenheim with the players that were available. It was extremely important that we managed a solid defensive display. We also created four or five clear-cut chances, which also gives us reason to be optimistic. We didn't create enough chances in Porto. Normally, we should've scored a second goal against Hoffenheim quicker but their keeper, Oliver Baumann, made a good save on the line.
Question: Was the 2-0 victory in Hoffenheim the perfect preparation for the Porto match? Did you manage to get the confidence that you need?
FC Bayern München showed a good reaction following their 3-1 defeat in the first leg of the Champions League quarter final against FC Porto, securing a deserved 2-0 victory at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Saturday. It was not a surprise for Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer. "We know what we are capable off and we know that we've already played good football this season," said the World Champion in an interview with DFB.de, in which he also looked ahead to the return leg with Porto on Tuesday in the Allianz Arena (20:45 CEST).
Question: Manuel Neuer, FC Bayern took another step towards the championship with a 2-0 win at Hoffenheim just days after suffering a 3-1 defeat in the Champions League and witnessing the club's physician, Dr. Müller-Wohlfahrt, resign. How was the team able to put all that behind them and focus on the game with Hoffenheim?
Manuel Neuer: We didn’t have any time to react to those headlines. After the Porto game, we landed in Munich on Thursday and on Friday we were back on the road heading towards Hoffenheim. We focused on being fit for this game and on producing a good performance. I think it was noticeable and we managed it quite well.
Question: But how do you block out the headlines?
Neuer: Everyone has their own way of doing it, but at the moment it's like this: We don't have time to think about it – and it's also not our area of concern. We players have to be fit for the games and we have to do everything we can to win the big games that are coming up in this time of the year. We lost just one important game in recent weeks – against Porto. But it's still within our own power to turn that encounter around.
Question: A 2-0 victory would be enough to book a semi final ticket. How will you approach the game on Tuesday with Porto?
Neuer: We showed a good performance today in Hoffenheim with the players that were available. It was extremely important that we managed a solid defensive display. We also created four or five clear-cut chances, which also gives us reason to be optimistic. We didn't create enough chances in Porto. Normally, we should've scored a second goal against Hoffenheim quicker but their keeper, Oliver Baumann, made a good save on the line.
Question: Was the 2-0 victory in Hoffenheim the perfect preparation for the Porto match? Did you manage to get the confidence that you need?
Neuer: One defeat does not knock us off our feet. Even if we wouldn’t have played another game after the Porto-defeat, we know what we are capable off and we know that we've already played good football this season. It's better for us to play in a three-day rhythm. As I said earlier, we only lost one important game in recent weeks and won the rest.
Question: Tuesday is perhaps the most important game of the season so far for you this campaign. Can you already feel the anticipation just moments after the game against Hoffenheim ended?
Neuer: No, most of the players were slightly exhausted in the changing rooms just now. But we will be ready on Tuesday and everyone will do whatever is in their power in order to produce a good performance.
Question: Was there every any intention of resting you against Hoffenheim?
Neuer: Firstly, I didn’t think about it myself and I also didn’t discuss it with anyone. I prefer to play as much as I can and therefore I didn’t consider being rested. It's always good for a keeper to play again right after he conceded three goals in one game. That way I have the chance to redeem myself and get a positive feeling before heading into the next game.
