Manuel Neuer wasn’t overly disappointed about not being named the World Footballer of the Year at the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala in Zurich. After all, the 28-year-old had a very successful 2014 – he won the domestic double in Germany, won the World Cup in Brazil, was named Germany’s Footballer of the Year and the European Sportsman of the Year. After the event, the goalkeeper faced the media.
Question: Manuel Neuer, are you disappointed not to win the reward?
Manuel Neuer: I’m a good sport and I picked up an award anyway – I was named the goalkeeper in the Team of the Year. It was a special evening. Us Germans picked up a lot of awards, so maybe a personal victory was a bit too much to ask for.
Question: Deep down, were you hoping for more?
Neuer: I was always aware that it was going to be difficult to beat the strikers. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi made their mark on world football last year. As a goalkeeper it’s more difficult to do that.
Question: Could a goalkeeper win the award?
Neuer: I’m not sure. When a game of football is on, the first thing that anyone asks is who scored the goals and not about how the goalkeeper has performed. I don’t think that’ll change.
Question: Does being named in the top three hold any specific significance?
Neuer: Being in the top three isn’t just for me, it’s for all goalkeepers. I’m proud about this. The nomination is also for goalkeepers who performed well in previous years.
Question: Is everything that happened the icing on the cake at the end of a successful year?
Neuer: It’s a year that I’ll have good memories of when I grow older and look back at my career. It’s certainly something that will be difficult to improve on.
Question: How will you celebrate?
Neuer: Our flight it on Tuesday morning. We won’t have a great party in Zurich – but is it true that you can only get Champagne for breakfast at Tiffany? We’re delighted to have ended 2014 on a high.
Takes from SID
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Manuel Neuer wasn’t overly disappointed about not being named the World Footballer of the Year at the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala in Zurich. After all, the 28-year-old had a very successful 2014 – he won the domestic double in Germany, won the World Cup in Brazil, was named Germany’s Footballer of the Year and the European Sportsman of the Year. After the event, the goalkeeper faced the media.
Question: Manuel Neuer, are you disappointed not to win the reward?
Manuel Neuer: I’m a good sport and I picked up an award anyway – I was named the goalkeeper in the Team of the Year. It was a special evening. Us Germans picked up a lot of awards, so maybe a personal victory was a bit too much to ask for.
Question: Deep down, were you hoping for more?
Neuer: I was always aware that it was going to be difficult to beat the strikers. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi made their mark on world football last year. As a goalkeeper it’s more difficult to do that.
Question: Could a goalkeeper win the award?
Neuer: I’m not sure. When a game of football is on, the first thing that anyone asks is who scored the goals and not about how the goalkeeper has performed. I don’t think that’ll change.
Question: Does being named in the top three hold any specific significance?
Neuer: Being in the top three isn’t just for me, it’s for all goalkeepers. I’m proud about this. The nomination is also for goalkeepers who performed well in previous years.
Question: Is everything that happened the icing on the cake at the end of a successful year?
Neuer: It’s a year that I’ll have good memories of when I grow older and look back at my career. It’s certainly something that will be difficult to improve on.
Question: How will you celebrate?
Neuer: Our flight it on Tuesday morning. We won’t have a great party in Zurich – but is it true that you can only get Champagne for breakfast at Tiffany? We’re delighted to have ended 2014 on a high.
Takes from SID
