Manuel Neuer on Bayern's Supercup triumph: 'You always want to win against Dotmund'
Goals from Arturo Vidal and Thomas Müller may have sealed FC Bayern München's 2-0 victory against Borussia Dortmund, but for many the Supercup was won by another commanding Manuel Neuer performance between the sticks.
After the game, the 30-year-old told the media of his delight at lifting the Supercup and discussed Bayern's upcoming campaign...
Question: Manuel Neuer, congratulations on winning the first trophy of the season. There were plenty of celebrations afterwards, both on the pitch and then in the changing room…
Manuel Neuer: There's certainly no question that the Supercup has taken on more significance over the last few years. When you haven't won it in the last three attempts, then it feels even better that we've finally managed it. Supercup winners – that feels good!
Question: So is it a good sign for the new season?
Neuer: I wouldn't necessarily say that. In the last three years – as I've already said – other teams have won the Supercup, whether Dortmund or [VfL] Wolfsburg, but we were still crowned champions at the end of the season.
Question: So it's a bad sign for Bayern, then?!
Neuer: (laughing) No, you can't say that either! Look, you always want to win every game you play against Borussia Dortmund. It's never just a friendly. It's a game between Germany's two best teams and you always want to win that.
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Question: Dortmund probably had the better chances in the first half and you had to come to your side's rescue a few times…
Neuer: We've only been in training together for a week or so. You could see that they [Dortmund] had done slightly more in training and were slightly more used to playing with each other. We were still behind in certain areas, and that was noticeable at various stages, but we're happy with the result. That said, the dominance that we have often shown against Dortmund in the past was missing.
Question: Bayern even had less possession than Dortmund, and that never happened under Pep Guardiola in the last few years…
Neuer: That's true, and that's not usual for us. Sometimes that's just how it is, though. Against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last season it was the reverse; the opposition had less possession and beat us. You can win games like that after all. The most important thing is that we've won the Supercup. The result speaks for itself.