This Friday morning at 3:00 AM CET+7, Bayern will host Bodø/Glimt in the first matchday of the Champions League group stage. Before the match, Neuer attended the team's press conference. In the first part of the press conference, he discussed his expectations for the match. Related link: Hello, what preparations have you made for this opponent? Last season in the Champions League, this team caused significant problems for top teams in several matches. How is your opponent analysis progressing? What awaits you tomorrow at the Allianz Arena? Our opponent analysis is certainly not completely finished, but we know we will face a solid team. Their squad is almost entirely composed of Norwegian players, which means they are very combative, active in pressing, and also very good at keeping possession.

Past matches have proven it; they have Champions League experience and show no fear against the best teams. It is clear that this team has strong team spirit. I think one advantage for us is that this is our home match, where we can dictate the rhythm of the game. Playing against such a team away on their artificial pitch would be a completely different matter. Going there during the colder months would make it even more difficult, but we are already prepared and vigilant. We have watched clips of their matches against other top clubs and strong European teams. They play without fear, having nothing to lose. Their head coach has managed the team since 2018, so their squad and playing style are stable. We all know we must never underestimate our opponents.

Since you are sitting here now, we assume you will play tomorrow. Is that the case? Can you tell us about the decision-making process? How do you communicate with Ulreich? Is there a deadline before the match to decide who will be the starting goalkeeper? First, player selection is not decided by us goalkeepers, but by the head coach and coaching staff. Of course, we communicate with each other; it's a standard process. The lineup for tomorrow's match has not yet been finalized. We both prepare as if we will play, and the final starting lineup is decided by the coach. Personally, I feel I will play tomorrow, and I am preparing in that direction. We will see the final lineup later.

In your opinion, who are the favorites to win the Champions League? You always follow Champions League teams; who are the main contenders? First, certainly the defending Champions League champion, and also those traditional powerhouses that constantly reach finals and semi-finals. Additionally, Barcelona has significantly strengthened their squad this summer. However, the true title contenders will only emerge gradually during the knockout stages. Every team will experience fluctuations in form during the first half of the season. We still need to observe the trends of each team. I believe these traditional powerhouses will remain the main protagonists in the race for the title.

You have experienced two of these new Champions League group stage formats, and in one of them, you even had to play a playoff. What experience did you gain from it? How important is it to finish in the top eight directly? Over the past two years, Bayern fell just short of their objective. What else does the team need to get over this hurdle? Honestly, the differences are in the subtle details. Our matches have always been very tight, for example, against Real Madrid and PSG. I believe we had the strength, and with a bit more luck, we could have reached the final. But these experiences have taught us a lot as well. The entire team has the will and motivation to make another push for the final. Winning the Champions League is our big goal, and I believe this team has the capacity to achieve it. We have suffered painful defeats and disappointments, but that has given us extra motivation, and we hope to reach the final next year.

Traduit par IA.

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