Manuel Neuer: It’s an honour to share the pitch with Kasper Schmeichel

The Celtic Star

·12 février 2025

Manuel Neuer: It’s an honour to share the pitch with Kasper Schmeichel

Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer has revealed it will be an honour for him to share the same pitch as his opposite number, Kasper Schmeichel…

Vincent Kompany, Head Coach of Bayern Munich, speaks with his players during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and FC Augsburg at Allianz Arena on November 22, 2024. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

The two veteran goalkeepers will be head-to-head later on tonight under those Paradise lights when Celtic and Bayern Munich clash for a place in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.

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New format seems to suit Celtic

Celtic’s hard work in the new-look format earned them a glamour tie with either Bayern or Real Madrid and the former came out of the hat for Brendan Rodgers and his men. Now all that remains is the simple task of eliminating a team which is steeped in a rich European footballing history and contains some of the world’s biggest talents.

No big deal, eh?

Manuel Neuer of Bayern Munich during the UEFA Champions League Media Conference on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Jokes aside, that team is packed full of world-class players and Neuer is no different. The man who is the original “sweeper keeper” has been a mainstay in European football for some years now and although his powers aren’t what they once were, is still an incredible figure to have in any team. Likewise, our number one is a similarly great character to have in any team with years and years of experience behind him.

“It’s always something special to meet someone my age who is still playing”

Partly the reason why the Hoops are in this knockout round is due to Kasper’s key performances in the league phase of the tournament. His counterpart Neuer was asked about the potential face-off and the German admitted it is an honour to play against the Great Dane. Speaking ahead of our match tonight, the 38-year-old said: “It is an honour to play against him. In our careers we kept meeting, we kept talking. I met his dad around the Champions League matches and I always talk to him as a goalkeeper. It’s always something special to meet someone my age who is still playing.”

Manuel Neuer of Bayern Munich during the UEFA Champions League Media Conference on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“We always have lots of bodies in the opposition half to try to hurt them”

The big ‘keeper revealed he has no intentions of ditching the philosophy and playing style that made him famous and quite a legendary figure in the game, stating: “I’ve always played quite offensively, with the ball I have a higher position than before, that is true. But we are a team that has a lot of possession. We always have lots of bodies in the opposition half to try to hurt them.

“We have seen in the past, teams that have four or five at the back, they park the bus. That’s why it is important our centre backs go forward, the goalkeeper helps so we have the advantage. Yes it is risky, but is important we have that balance. We have made mistakes, yes, that is human, that is normal. But we also have scored many goals through it.”

Paul Gillespie