Manuel Neuer left the field early in the match against Cologne.
However, Bayern Munich have no reason to worry, as Neuer himself has confirmed.
His statements about the national team are significant.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper of the German record champions was replaced by coach Vincent Kompany in the 60th minute of the 5-1 win over Effzeh, making way for reserve goalkeeper Jonas Urbig.
Immediately after Cologne won a corner kick, Neuer signaled to the bench during a goal kick that he could not continue.
With limited movement in his left leg, the FCB captain still managed to greet the Cologne players with a "thumbs-up" as he left the field.
The 40-year-old has had minor injury problems throughout the season, with his left calf frequently recurring as a problem.
With the German Cup (DFB-Pokal) final against Stuttgart approaching next week and a potential World Cup on the horizon, an injury to Neuer would have come at a very bad time.
However, the captain immediately gave the "green light" after the match ended.
Initially, he returned to the field, hugged his teammates and joked.
Then, smiling, he lifted the championship trophy and couldn't hold back during the celebrations with the team.
Afterwards, he told Sky: "I felt a slight pull in my hamstring; I didn't want to risk anything for next week."
Asked if he had spoken to national team coach Julian Nagelsmann, he replied: "No, not recently. We have been in contact all year - just like I have been with other previous coaches and officials."
Several media outlets had recently reported that he was on Nagelsmann's preliminary 55-man list for the tour of the US, Canada and Mexico.
Asked by Sky journalist Sebastian Hellmann if he was planning a return to the national team, Neuer replied: "I'm completely calm. Today we are celebrating the championship title and we have a very important match next week in the German Cup final. That's not on my mind today." He reiterated this stance and, when asked if he was ruling out participating in the World Cup, added: "For me - as I said - that's not on my mind today. The beautiful thing is that we are celebrating a title and we still have a job to do with this team next week. You don't need to know that."
As the saying goes: this was not a denial – quite the opposite. Neuer's return to the national team now seems to be getting closer and closer. Julian Nagelsmann may provide more clarity later on Saturday evening during his appearance on the "ZDF Sportstudio".
Sky journalist Florian Plettenberg, who is usually very well informed, has confirmed that Neuer's return to the national team is a done deal.
On "X", Plettenberg wrote: "World Cup return set: Julian Nagelsmann brings in Manuel Neuer as Germany's No. 1 - DONE."
According to reports, Neuer has changed his mind about retiring from the national team after talks with Nagelsmann and DFB sporting director Rudi Völler.
Current number 1, Oliver Baumann, however, still expects to be a starter at the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
"I'm going into the preparation phase and then into the World Cup with a lot of confidence. He has expressed confidence in me. Period," said the TSG Hoffenheim goalkeeper after the 0-4 defeat against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
"I have my information – from my conversation with Julian [Nagelsmann]. It was a one-on-one conversation," he concluded./Express newspaper/
t7 live
