BAYERN GAME February 2025
MN: It‘ s only human to build up a sense of protection, I sometimes feel that way myself. But I’ ve learnt for myself that I can clear my head more quickly if I talk about it openly and admit a mistake to myself. I can then move on. During a match, however, I‘ ve got into the habit of completely blocking out a mistake that has led to conceding a goal and telling myself that it‘ s still 0-0. I block it out until the final whistle and don‘ t allow any self-doubt to creep in. SM: That‘ s a good attitude. There‘ s no room for self-doubt in a goalkeeper. Because when there‘ s something at stake in the really important games, a goalkeeper‘ s form on the day still decides 60 to 80 per cent of the outcome. If you have a good day as goalkeeper in a final, that‘ s half the battle for your team. That was the case for me in the 1974 World Cup final, but even more so in the semi-final against Poland. Or for Manuel, the 2020 Champions League final against PSG. If you want to win the Champions League, you need a strong goalkeeper who is confident in himself. Full stop. Sepp, you made an incredible 442 consecutive Bundesliga appearances. Doesn‘ t it get boring at some point when you walk onto the pitch in the same stadium for the umpteenth time? SM: I was never really conscious of that run – it was only when a reporter once said to me that he would like to do an interview
This particular trophy stands out from their large collection of titles: Maier‘ s ″ Bravo“ Otto from 1976.
I BLOCK OUT MISTAKES
TILL THE FINAL WHISTLE
Manuel Neuer
The cruxes of a goalkeeper‘ s life: Maier once played for 13 years straight – even Neuer occasionally pops his finger joints back into place during a match.
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