FC Bayern: FCB boss Oliver Kahn talks about rumors about BVB goalkeeper Kobel

Bundesliga

With the signing of Yann Sommer, Bayern bosses Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidžić have conjured up a luxury situation from a rather uncomfortable situation. The injury of DFB star Manuel Neuer in the middle of the season came at the wrong time, when Bayern have such high goals in the second half of the season, including in the Champions League. With Sommer, FCB now has two world-class keeper under contract. The only problem: the upcoming competition after Neuer’s return.

All the less does CEO Oliver Kahn understand the latest rumors about a supposed Bayern interest in Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel. The “Kicker” recently reported that Bayern had the BVB professional on the list for the time after Neuer.

As a Bayern keeper, Oli Kahn was once a world goalkeeper himself.Image: imago / Eibner

“I have no idea where these rumors come from. I have never said anything about the player Gregor Kobel,” Kahn said in an interview with “Sport Bild”. On the occasion, the CEO talks about the top keepers in the Munich squad and gives four reasons why Bayern don’t need Kobel at all.

1st reason: Manuel Neuer

“Manuel Neuer is our captain and our number one,” emphasizes Kahn in the “Sport Bild” interview. “His merits [um den Verein] cannot be weighed with money”, sums up the Bayern boss after ten years with Neuer in goal, in which ten German championships were won, among other things.

There is already speculation as to whether Neuer’s broken leg could end his career. Image: dpa / Tom Weller

Hence the clear course: “The decisive thing in the current situation is that [Neuer] will be healthy and fit again.” As soon as Neuer’s skiing accident became known, Kahn promised his employee every support. “He will also master this serious injury and return to the pitch as strong as before,” Kahn said optimistically in a club statement.

As a world-class goalkeeper himself, Kahn knows how difficult it is to come back from an injury like this. “The most important thing for me: A player who is injured needs support”, Kahn is now emphasizing his priorities again. Accordingly, he wants to give Neuer “all the time and rest” that he needs.

2nd reason: Yann Sommer

So while Kahn is backing Neuer, he and Salihamidžić recently lured a real heavyweight to Munich in Yann Sommer. “The optimal solution”, says Kahn and is certain: With him “we can achieve the big goals that Bayern have set themselves in all competitions.”

Yann Sommer made his debut for FC Bayern against Augsburg.Image: dpa / Hendrik Schmidt

Although Kahn is careful to only describe summer as a “short-term” solution, the 30-year-old’s contract runs until 2025. It is conceivable that Bayern only wanted to make provisions with the length of the contract so that they could get at least part of their fee back in the summer – when the player of the same name could move on to another top club.

According to Kahn’s enthusiasm, the Bayern boss would have no problem trusting the Swiss national keeper beyond the end of the season. All the less Bayern have to worry about Gregor Kobel, who was left behind in the national team by Sommer.

3rd reason: Sven Ulreich

And then Bayern also has Sven Ulreich. “He has proven that he is always reliable in his role and delivers his performances”, Kahn makes clear again. The emphasis is on: “In his role”.

Although the 34-year-old has already played 230 Bundesliga games and many clubs would tear themselves away from him, he is at Bayern obviously only one for the second term. The reaction to Neuer’s injury proved that at the latest.

Sven Ulreich will not be in goal as a new replacement, but Bayern brought in Yann Sommer.Image: dpa / Sven Hoppe

Others would have trusted the seasoned Bundesliga professional, but the record champions needed a more spectacular solution. The advantage for Bayern: Ulreich accepts his role. Since he came from VfB Stuttgart in 2015, it was clear that he would only be a back-up for the big star.

4th reason: Alexander Nübel

In addition, Alexander Nübel is still under contract with Bayern. After Neuer’s broken leg, a return campaign for the 26-year-old, who had been loaned to AS Monaco, was initially the option preferred by the Bayern bosses. After all, they had already proclaimed Nübel the designated new heir when he signed up in 2021. But the Monegasques probably didn’t want to let their support go in the middle of the season.

Alexander Nübel does not want to sit on the bench again at Bayern.Image: www.imago-images.de / Ricardo Larreina

In addition, Nübel is probably frustrated that he received so little attention from Bayern after his commitment. He has no desire to compete again with Neuer. “It is legitimate that he wants to return to Munich provided there is playing time“, says Oliver Kahn. Because the ex-national goalkeeper knows: “You only get better if you play.”

Kahn left open whether Nübel would actually return to Munich. “We’ll see what performances Yann Sommer shows in the second half of the season,” and then they want to see what’s next.