Bayern and Neuer wary of wounded Real Madrid
Manuel Neuer said that while Bayern Munich is in the driving seat in its UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid, he acknowledged Alvaro Arbeloa's wounded team would be dangerous at Allianz Arena.
Bayern returns to home soil with a one-goal advantage after a 2-1 win in the Spanish capital last week, with Luis Diaz and Harry Kane on target for the Bundesliga leader.
Kylian Mbappe netted a 74th-minute consolation to keep the tie firmly in the balance, and history suggests that Madrid is in with a huge chance of turning things around.
Since the start of the 2013-2014 season, Madrid has the joint-most away wins against Bayern across all competitions, despite only playing there four times in this period.
In addition, Los Blancos are also unbeaten in their past four away games against Munich, winning three of those.
The UEFA Champions League represents perhaps the last bit of silverware Madrid can realistically achieve, given it is nine points behind Barcelona in LaLiga as well as being knocked out of the Copa del Rey and losing the Supercopa de Espana final.
"It's a great opportunity for Real to make good. But we know what that's like, too, from when we didn't win the title," Neuer said.
"It's tough and difficult, especially for a club like Real Madrid. We've experienced that firsthand.
"It's precisely when your back is against the wall that you can move mountains, but I don't want to put myself too much in Real's shoes. I'd rather focus on our own situation.
"We're on a roll, things are going well, we're still in the running in every competition, and our fate is in our own hands. This is a situation where we're in the driver's seat."
Neuer has won two UEFA Champions League titles with Bayern, including its most recent triumph in 2019-2020, and he believes the team can go all the way again this year.
"We know that a lot is possible, especially with the energy in us. I'd be happy if we got there again. We laid the foundation with the Club World Cup," Neuer added.
"That was an important element which we took into the Supercup, then we started very well and that creates something.
"It's the second year under Vinny Kompany, we've made progress – it helps when we understand the coach's philosophy, the energy is in the team and I think it's our time."
One player that will be key for Bayern in Michael Olise, whom coach Vincent Kompany believes will be one of the best players in the world one day.
"We see him every day and he does it at the highest level in the [UEFA] Champions League," Kompany said of the former Crystal Palace man.
"He'll surely be one of the best in the world one day. He's on the right track now. Everything he does is right. His level now is one of the best in Europe.
"But if I said now he's the best, people will ask how many titles he's won. He needs to keep going as he's done over the last 18 months. If he keeps going, we'll see what becomes of him."
