Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is convinced his team always believed they could get past Juventus. Even after going two goals down in Wednesday’s Champions League clash.
After a memorable night at the Allianz Arena, Bayern Munich fans would be forgiven for thinking a comeback of such proportions against Juventus was enough to prove the winning mentality in Pep Guardiola’s squad. Yet speaking to DW after the 4-2 win on Wednesday night, Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer believes his side always had that necessary team spirit long before their famous win.
“We didn’t need this score and to come back to 4-2 in overtime to know that we are a good team. But it helps the team,” Neuer told DW after the game. “I think the spirit is there. We saw in the first 60 minutes in Turin how amazing we can play. We know how we can play football.”
Bayern went 2-0 down within the opening 30 minutes of the second-leg tie, and the match could have gotten out of hand if it wasn’t for Neuer in goal. Late strikes from Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Müller, Thiago Alcantara and Kingsley Coman allowed the Bavaria giants were able to push past last season’s finalists and in to the Champions League quarterfinals.
“It was amazing that we came back,” Neuer said. “The situation was amazing. To be 2-0 behind – and it wasn’t easy to come back – we needed to take a break and breath.
“The coolness was there in the second half and we knew that in every game we could score two goals. We followed a structure in the second half and it was important that we didn’t concede a third.”
The result now means Bayern have now reached the quarterfinals of the premier European competitions for the past five consecutive seasons. Guardiola and his side will find out who they play next in the UEFA draw on Friday.
