Case for Neuer
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Manuel Neuer, along with Kevin De Bruyne and Robert Lewandowski, was shortlisted for the 2019/20 UEFA Player of the Year title. UEFA.com clarifies the details of the goalkeeper.
Positional award nominees
Jordan Maciel, UEFA.com correspondent for Bayern Munich
Neuer has reminded the world that he is one of the best goalkeepers in the game with three brilliant performances in the UEFA Champions League final in Lisbon. Big games are decided by big moments, and the Bayern captain made important saves against Barcelona, Lyon and Paris at a time when these games could easily have taken a different direction.
One of five players in both Bayern triple wins, the 34-year-old was just as impressive in 2019/13 as he was in 2012/13.
2019/20 in numbers
Achievements : UEFA Champions League winner, Bundesliga winner, German Cup winner.
Uefa champions league
Matches: 11
Conceded goals: 8
Blank sheets: 6
Domestic League
Matches: 33
Conceded goals: 31
Blank sheets: 15
Three main points
1. Prevent Neymar and Kilian Mbappa from becoming the first goalkeeper to win two triple goals in the UEFA Champions League. Vice-captain of Bayern, which won the triple in 2012/13 and Germany, which won the 2014 World Cup, was the first to win the trophy in Lisbon.
2 ... Ensuring that Bayern reach the final with full dedication in the semi-final win over Lyon. The 3-0 score obscured what was one of the few under-par Bayern results of the season. Thanks to Neuer's efforts, everything looked easy on paper.
3. Reading his stats at the end of the season must have pleased Neuer. He conceded an average of every 123 minutes in the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League and retained 15 clean sheets in 33 Bundesliga appearances.
What they're saying
“Manu has been in amazing shape throughout the 2019/20 season and is in a class of his own - amazing, incredible. I have nothing against Robert Lewandowski, he is a top-notch scorer. But for me, the world footballer, the Year is Manuel Neuer. "
Joachim Loew, coach of the German national team
“Manuel is one of a kind. At Bayern, the goalkeeper is not constantly under siege. But he must act in those few moments in which he is needed. When a striker plays 1v1 against Neuer, he is almost never happy. look at all that Manuel has won and how much he has contributed to championship titles, you can say that he is one of the best of all time. "
Oliver Kahn, former goalkeeper for Bayern and Germany
“Manuel Neuer has been in absolute top shape for several weeks now. His quality was incredible against us in the UEFA Champions League final. His performance was a kind of distortion of the competition. He took goalkeepers to new heights. "
Thomas Tuchel, coach of PSG