Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has probably been looking forward to this football match since May 2. That’s when his former club Schalke secured a long-awaited return to the Bundesliga after three years in the second division.
And now, some four months later, it’s finally time: a sold-out Veltins arena for Saturday’s Bundesliga top matchup under the floodlights.
The emotional mix is fuelling the 2014 World Cup champion. Neuer will lead Bayern and stand on the pitch as team captain against his hometown club – and probably for the last time.
It’s a special stop on Neuer’s farewell tour, one he himself has hinted at more than once before the season began.
“I’m looking forward to the Veltins arena. It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to play there,” Neuer said. He even called it “a dream, especially considering that this could very well be my last season.”
Will Neuer be booed again?
The 40-year-old is, of course, returning home as an opponent. Even 15 years after his multimillion-euro transfer from Schalke to Bayern, he’s sure to be booed by the Royal Blue fans.
In 2011, fans unfurled a banner which read: “Betraying your roots for a title and money. Even Judas had more honour.”
Neuer was born in Gelsenkirchen and, at the age of five, he began playing for Schalke, making his professional debut with the team in 2006.
“I grew up there. I played for Schalke for 20 years,” Neuer recalled.
That’s a lifetime connection. And even though Neuer has become a Bayern legend over time and feels home in Bavaria, he still carries Schalke in his heart and is actively involved in community service in his hometown.
For him, Schalke’s return to the Bundesliga is essentially a farewell gift in the likely final year of his magnificent career.
“To me, the club simply belongs in the top division,” he stressed.
When Neuer set the stage for Schalke’s last victory over Bayern
Despite his affection for the club, Neuer naturally wants to leave the Veltins arena as the winner – as he has almost always done in his 15 years with Bayern.
When Schalke celebrated their last Bundesliga victory over the Bavarians on December 4, 2010, Felix Magath was still the coach and Neuer was their number one.
And the goalkeeper had a big participation in the first goal of the 2-0 victory. It was Neuer’s long pass that set up Raul’s run, who then found José Manuel Jurado and the latter hit the net.
On Saturday, however, Neuer will hope to help Bayern make it two wins out of as many Bundesliga games this season after the 5-1 thrashing of VfB Stuttgart in their league opener.
Before his return to Gelsenkirchen, Neuer took a break and was only on the bench in the German Cup first round win against VfL Osnabrück on Wednesday.
But when asked about his physical condition following injuries last season, he stressed: “I feel good.”
One last dance?
Neuer extended his contract with Bayern for another season and dreams of ending his career with a third treble (Bundesliga, Cup and Champions League titles) after 2013 and 2020.
“I might have retired in 85% of cases. But with this team, the staff, and the coaching staff, it’s just fun. We always have a chance to compete for every title,” Neuer said during pre-season. “It’s looking very likely that I’ll retire after this season.”
Of course, during a game, he doesn’t think about the fact that it might be “the last time” he’s in this or that stadium. But on Saturday evening at Schalke, he probably will.
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