Toni Schumacher is German champion, cup winner and European champion.
In an interview, the long-time Cologne resident talks about the duel against Bayern, Yann Sommer and Manuel Neuer.
Munich – 16 years in Cologne, eight games for Bayern: goalkeeper legend Toni Schumacher (68) is an expert when it comes to the pairing on Tuesday evening (8.30 p.m.).
Herr Schumacher, 7:1 against Bremen.
How is the mood in the cathedral city?
The euphoria is huge.
And then, of course, we immediately think again that we can also be represented in Europe.
That's quick in Cologne.
Similar to Munich at TSV 1860.
(laughs) Exhilarating or saddened to death.
You were in goal in the 7-0 win against Frankfurt in 1983, the last comparable win.
That's correct.
But I can also think of a game against Bremen: won 7-2, six goals from Dieter Müller.
In games like this, even as a player, I always felt sorry for the other goalkeeper.
Conceding seven goals is a humiliation.
Toni Schumacher in an interview about betting with Rummenigge and Breitner: "I cashed in"
Was that a cream day - or a wink?
That's Steffen Baumgart's way of letting football play.
He doesn't change his tactics, no matter what opponent comes.
I like that.
Cologne will also try to put pressure on their opponents up front against Bayern.
You say you are an "optimist".
FC believes they can beat FC Bayern – do you too?
At least that's how you have to play the game.
I'm not saying: I'll get hit in the head anyway.
Let's put it this way: a dot would be a success.
You yourself have an almost balanced record against FC Bayern.
That was a favorite opponent of mine.
But of course we had a great team back then, we got the double at the end of the seventies and we played regularly in Europe.
That's different today.
You bet money with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Paul Breitner when you met each other.
Who had their pockets full?
I bet Kalle that he wouldn't score against me.
So I cashed in (laughs).
I wasn't that successful against Paul in our penalty bet.
You really can't rouse him, especially not with 200 Deutschmarks.
Cologne icon Schumacher on summer: "I thought a lot about the change"
Did they know that you were the first "data collector" in this field?
I do not think so.
But I really was!
The little notebook with my notes is now in the football museum in Dortmund.
My friends, my mother – everyone helped when they saw a penalty kick on TV: shirt number, club – and which corner he was taking.
So at some point I had a small database.
That's why I'm still the goalkeeper in the league who has saved the second most penalties.
Would you have held against Lewandowski?
I guess so.
It was a little psycho thriller that I enjoyed.
You were 37 when you made your Bayern debut. Alongside Jörg Butt, you were the only debutant older than Yann Sommer…
Honest?
(laughs) But I only helped out for eight games.
Raimond Aumann called because all the goalkeepers were injured.
I had already finished my career.
Sommer's role is different.
I thought a lot about the change, like with Jörg Butt: Why do you go as the absolute number one from one club to another club where you're only number one for a short time?
When Manuel Neuer is back, that's over for summer.
Then he will play.
Schuhmacher's advice to Neuer: "I would do without the national team if I were him"
Can Neuer come back at 37 like before?
As you get older, it takes longer to recover from injuries.
You have to see how he succeeds.
I'm not worried that he's not motivated, that he can't maintain the level.
When I was 42, I was in goal again in Dortmund.
But if I were him, I would think about playing for the national team.
So resign?
Because of his old age I would not play for the national team if I were him.
This double burden, the high risk of injury: there are many reasons.
I think he will too.
And then he can play until he is 40 – like Dino Zoff.
Is summer better than Sven Ulreich?
It's a difficult thing for Ulreich, I feel a little sorry for him.
He's a great goalkeeper himself - and that as a second man.
The fact that they then get a new one is tough for him.
In his place I would look for a new club in the summer.
Conversely, Sommer knows that he can't take it easy.
He has to go full throttle, otherwise Ulreich will be there.
Its size was an issue.
At 1.86 meters, you yourself have proven how well you can stop as a smaller keeper
If you look at the guys in goal today, they're huge.
He just has other qualities.
He held up great in Gladbach and also in the Swiss national team.
He is responsive.
He doesn't make it big, but he has long stretches ahead of him.
So you can play with him against Paris with a clear conscience?
I think so.
And against Cologne?
(laughs) ... he has to reach behind him twice.
Let's see how many goals fall on the other side.
Interview: Hanna Raif
