Despite the best performance, Sommer is in a tricky situation

Germany's most successful club used a special trick to get to their destination quickly and easily. Because of the Ver.di strike, FC Bayern could not fly from Munich to the away game against Borussia Mönchengladbach this Saturday (3.30 p.m., in the WELT sports ticker) as planned, none of the more than 700 scheduled transit flights took off or landed. So the record German soccer champion went to Oberpfaffenhofen – and from the airport there in two private jets to North Rhine-Westphalia.

Yann Sommer, 34, boarded the machine in a good mood. The goalie is this week's winner. Thanks in part to his performance, Bayern won the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 last Tuesday at Paris St. Germain (1-0). An enormously important success in a trend-setting game for the club and the recently criticized coach Julian Nagelsmann, 35. Sommer had saved the success with several saves, in the final phase against PSG superstar Kylian Mbappé.

The club bosses praised him and celebrated the success with Sommer at a reception in the “Pullman” team hotel near the Eiffel Tower. "That's what distinguishes a goalkeeper at Bayern Munich, that you don't get so much to do, but you're there when you're needed," said CEO Oliver Kahn in the hotel room over the summer. He "kept the team in the game," said the former international goalkeeper. The Munich "TZ" even asked in a headline: "Is anyone new missing?"

The game in Mönchengladbach is particularly emotional for summer. He played for Borussia for eight and a half years, only moving to Munich for around eight million euros in early January to replace captain Manuel Neuer, who was probably injured until at least the summer. When he changed, Sommer thanked Borussia for the great time. Thanks to his performances for Mönchengladbach, he became Switzerland's number one and is the country's record goalkeeper with 80 caps.

Now he is playing for another Bundesliga club at Borussia Park for the first time. In the 1-1 draw in the first half of the season, Sommer set a record with 19 saves against Bayern. On this Saturday afternoon he has to parry against his former colleagues.

Sommer looks as if he has been playing for Munich for a long time – even if he has only kept three clean sheets in seven games with his new club so far. Thanks to his experience, his playing rhythm and his nice nature, he integrated extremely quickly.

For years he has been one of the best goalkeepers in the league. Now he proves himself outside of his national team at the highest international level against world stars. "He played from the first game as if he had been there for a long time," agrees Sport Director Hasan Salihamidzic, 46. "He plays well. He exudes calm. You have to give a compliment. He also has confidence in himself.”

Sommer himself appears modest. "I'm getting used to the game I have in Munich," he said in Paris. "It might be a little less work. But it's clear that if we play at that level in the Champions League, our goal will have a bit of work to do." He praised the men in front: "I think we've defended a lot on the defensive, once again. And of course that's a gift as a goalkeeper when the people in front defend like that."

Nagelsmann emphasizes how happy he is to have summer. He is a very smart and exceptional goalkeeper. With all the “side noise”, the early days at Bayern weren’t exactly easy for summer. "He has a claim to leadership, which he also fulfills," said the coach. "You always have the feeling that you can play him and you don't have to tremble when you pass back. He has a very good charisma.”

But although Sommer convinces everyone in terms of performance, it is not clear that he will remain Bayern's number one in the long term. He has signed until June 30, 2025. Manchester United were also recently interested in him. And it could become an issue again in the future.

With his interview, which was not authorized by the club, Neuer recently sent the signal that it was better not to write him off. He still has the claim to be number one in FC Bayern. Even without his friend, best man and goalkeeper coach Toni Tapalovic, 42, from whom the club recently separated.

Instead, Michaelrechner, 42, who has just been signed by TSG Hoffenheim, is now working with Sommer and the other goalkeepers. Alexander Nübel, 26, has been loaned out to AS Monaco until the end of the season, and his contract with Bayern also runs until June 2025. Three potential number one goalkeepers – there is a risk of a tricky situation in Munich next summer.

Uli Hoeneß, 71, firmly believes that Neuer will play for Bayern again next season. "I don't see any irreconcilable differences, the problems are there, they have to be discussed and resolved calmly and openly," the club's honorary president said this week to the editorial network Germany. Neuer made a significant contribution “to our successes and the successes of the national team. And when he recovers, he will put the gloves back on.”

According to Hoeneß, Neuer's interview caused a stir and excitement and surprised him too. "In the first few days, the media took over the baton and the sovereignty of interpretation, which must not and will not remain so." could be the right time for that.” The second game against the star ensemble around the Argentinian world champion Lionel Messi takes place on March 8th in the Munich stadium.

In the club they say: The first step was taken with the away win over Paris. Now the second is to follow in the second leg. With a secure backing named Yann Sommer.