"Because the career doesn't last that long": Labbadia criticizes Neuer's carelessness on skis

Created: 2022-12-14 05:42

By: Christoph Gschossmann

The coach of VfB Stuttgart, Bruno Labbadia, commented on Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

© Hannibal Hanschke/dpa/archive image

Manuel Neuer was seriously injured while ski touring.

The new VfB coach Bruno Labbadia appeals to his players to think in terms of the club.

Stuttgart/Munich - A national player, even a DFB captain, gets seriously injured while ski touring in his free time - and of course the whole of football Germany now has an opinion on it.

Did Manuel Neuer act irresponsibly?

How much risk are professionals allowed to take in their free time when their body is their most important asset?

Labbadia did not ski as a professional: "The risk was just too big for me"

The new coach of VfB Stuttgart also commented after the end of the season for the national soccer goalkeeper.

Labbadia, once a striker at Neuer's club FC Bayern Munich, considers the personal responsibility of the professionals to be important.

He appealed to the players to make decisions for each club, said the 56-year-old: "Personally, I always decided not to ski at the time because the risk was just too great for me." To be out for three months means "in the normal life felt like three years because the career doesn't last that long.

Everyone has to decide that for themselves.”

Legally speaking, Neuer did nothing wrong

But Labbadia also noted that everyone had to decide for themselves.

Bayern keeper Neuer broke his lower leg on a ski tour and announced on Saturday that he would be out for the rest of the season.

Previously, Neuer had disappointed with the DFB team in Qatar at the 2022 World Cup and was eliminated after the group stage.

(Match schedule for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar)

Legally speaking, Neuer did nothing wrong.

Dangerous sports are contractually prohibited, but the FCB captain's contract does not contain a specific skiing clause.

Accordingly, the goalkeeper did not have to inform the record champions of his slope maps in advance.

(cgsc)