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Oliver Kahn, not amused
Photo: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
CEO Oliver Kahn from FC Bayern Munich has criticized captain Manuel Neuer for his recent statements.
"What Manuel said in parts of these two interviews in connection with Toni Tapalovic's release does neither do justice to him as captain nor to the values of FC Bayern.
In addition, his statements come at an inopportune time because we are facing very important games," said Kahn when asked by the German Press Agency.
Neuer had previously spoken in an interview with the "Süddeutsche Zeitung", which also appeared in the "The Athletic" portal.
He had ruled out resigning from the national team.
Neuer expressed his disappointment that the German record champions parted ways with long-time goalkeeping coach Toni Tapalovic.
"He didn't just work for me for eleven and a half years, but for everyone," explained Neuer.
»For me it was a blow when I was already on the ground.
I felt like my heart was being ripped out, that was the craziest thing I've experienced in my career," Neuer said.
When asked about Neuer's motives, Kahn said: »He is personally affected, you have to understand that to a certain extent.
We were also aware of that when we explained to him that the decision we made about the goalkeeping coach, which was not taken lightly, was the best thing for our team at that moment.
I faced a similar situation as a national player in 2004.
Our goalkeeper coach Sepp Maier felt badly treated by the DFB and they separated.
I had worked with Sepp for years and we had a friendly and trusting relationship," said Kahn.
"I was disappointed at the time too, and I was angry at the DFB.
But the common goals were in the foreground for me.
They were more important to me than my personal feelings.
And that's why I decided at the time not to speak publicly.
Manuel has now done the opposite,” added Kahn.
The 53-year-old announced talks with the injured goalkeeper.
"We'll talk to him about it very clearly," Kahn said.
After the disappointing first-round elimination at the World Championships in Qatar, Neuer had a skiing accident, the consequences of which made him absent for the rest of the season.
As a replacement, the club had taken Yann Sommer as an experienced keeper and Swiss national goalkeeper for around eight million euros.
After his return, Neuer will have to face an unfamiliar competition.
mfu/dpa