Manuel Neuer, Bayern Munich’s captain, reveals that he and his teammates are still grappling with the aftermath of Saturday’s Bundesliga defeat to Bayer Leverkusen as they redirect their focus towards the upcoming Champions League.
Leverkusen secured a convincing 3-0 victory, extending their lead over Bayern by five points at the Bundesliga summit. Manuel Neuer acknowledged the lingering impact of the defeat, stating, “When you lose like that, it does something with you.” Despite the setback, Bayern focuses on redemption in the Champions League, with a last-16 first-leg clash against Lazio on Wednesday.
Neuer emphasized the team’s determination to bounce back, saying, “We want to make up for things that we didn’t do well in Leverkusen.” Bayern Munich, boasting six Champions League titles, seeks to maintain their competitive edge. Manager Thomas Tuchel emphasized the importance of resilience, stating, “Even when Bayern Munich lose, the sun still rises. We’re looking forward to the game.
Manuel Neuer attributes the loss to Leverkusen to Bayern’s failure in adequately supplying the ball to England captain Harry Kane, the Bundesliga’s leading scorer with 24 goals. Neuer emphasized the need for strategic play, stating, “Harry Kane needs to be fed by us. When we feed him, he’s a phenomenon.” Lazio, currently eighth in Serie A, seeks their first Champions League quarter-final in 24 years, relying on captain Ciro Immobile to deliver goals and potentially rival Kane. Immobile acknowledges the importance of numbers for a striker but emphasizes that the focus is on the collective clash between Lazio and Bayern rather than a direct comparison with Kane.
