Bayern Munich CEO Oliver Kahn, sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic and coach Julian Nagelsmann have all criticised injured captain Manuel Neuer for publicly expressing his disappointment with the club.
The dispute centres on Bayern’s decision to fire goalkeeping coach Toni Tapalovic on Jan. 23 due to what Salihamidzic said were “differences over the ways and means of working together.”
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The dismissal was described by Neuer as “the worst thing I’ve experienced in my career” during an interview that appeared in the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper and The Athletic website Friday.
Kahn told news agency DPA that Neuer’s comments do “neither justice to him as captain nor the values of Bayern” and he criticised the goalkeeper for his timing “ahead of very important games.”
Salihamidzic accused Neuer of “putting his personal interests above those of the club,” while Nagelsmann on Sunday referred to Kahn’s statement and added his own criticism of Neuer.
“From Manuel’s perspective, I wouldn’t have given the interview, especially when he says in the same interview that the club is the priority. It doesn’t help calm things down,” Nagelsmann said.
Tapalovic joined Bayern with Neuer from Schalke in 2011. Kicker magazine reported on Sunday that several teammates had expressed their solidarity with the German goalkeeper.
