Max Eberle, Bayern Munich Board Member for Sports Affairs, left the door open about the possibility of Manuel Neuer, the first team's goalkeeper, returning to participate against Arsenal next Wednesday in the Champions League, after suffering from a foot problem.
Neuer missed the match in which Bayern Munich tied with Viking Stavanger 3-3 in the Champions League last week, and also in the match in which his team beat Leipzig 6-1 yesterday evening, Saturday.
Eberl said after the match: “The injury is not serious. There is just some fluid accumulated in the foot, and there is nothing to worry about.” "He was not ready enough to participate today, and we will see if he will be able to play on Wednesday."
Eberle explained the nature of the problem that Neuer was suffering from, after coach Vincent Kompany merely said that the goalkeeper felt something abnormal in his foot.
Jonas Orbig participated in Bayern's two matches against Viking and Leipzig, and also confirmed his readiness to play against Arsenal, the English Premier League champion and Champions League runner-up last season.
Orbig (23 years old) said: “Everyone is ready to participate.” I hope Manu gets back to his fitness quickly, that much is clear. If the team needs me, I am ready.”
Orbig did not face many tests against Leipzig, who presented a disappointing performance, but conceded a goal in stoppage time scored by Andrea Maksimovic. Bayern's Luis Diaz scored three goals, along with Aleksandar Pavlovic, Michael Oliseh and Harry Kane.
Bayern will miss Oliseh's services against Arsenal due to suspension, and the match date comes early for Jamal Musiala, who, according to Eberle, is close to returning after suffering a ruptured muscle fiber.
Eberl said: “I don’t think he will be ready for the Arsenal match.” We are currently working to restore it gradually and carefully.”
Christian Horner once again reduced speculation about the possibility of him joining Ferrari, stressing that he would accept the idea of not returning to the Formula 1 world championship.
Horner began his tour to talk about his new book, “Drive,” at an event held in York, and the British news agency (PA Media) reported that Horner reviewed his entire career in Formula 1, starting with Red Bull’s entry into the championship, all the way to his controversial departure from the team after the British Grand Prix in 2025.
But the event ended without mentioning the accusations that Horner faced during the last period of his work with the team. The Q&A segment for the audience was also conducted through questions sent via QR codes, and posed to Horner by the event presenter.
Red Bull's decision to dismiss Horner came a year and a half after he was accused of "inappropriate behavior" by a female colleague at work. Horner has consistently denied the accusations, and a senior British independent lawyer has acquitted him for a second time of controlling behaviour. Horner addressed this issue in his book in a chapter titled “The Wolves Are Out.”
Horner's departure from Red Bull ended a 20-year career with the team, during which he won eight World Drivers' Championship titles and six constructors' titles, while his name is still linked to speculation about a return to the sport.
A recent press interview with him, in which he described Ferrari as the biggest brand in Formula 1, revived speculation about the possibility of him joining the Italian team, but he was quick again to downplay it. Horner said: “I said that there is an aura surrounding Ferrari, and that working with him represents a privilege for the driver, engineer, etc., and that it is a dream for many drivers. But I never said it was my dream!”
He added: “But the story spread on the basis that working at Ferrari is my dream job. “I felt sorry for Fred Vasseur, the team manager, because he was suddenly under a lot of pressure.”
Horner talked about how he succeeded in attracting Adrian Newey, one of the most prominent car designers in motorsport, to the team. He also reviewed his relationship with world champions Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, and the changes that occurred in the team structure following the death of Dietrich Mateschitz, co-founder of Red Bull, in 2022.
Horner described his dismissal from Red Bull, a few days after the Silverstone race, as “cruel.” When the talk returned to his future, Horner indicated that his return to Formula 1 was not a certainty. “What excites me most is thinking about the next chapter of my life,” he said. "Honestly, I have no idea what it will be like." He added: “If my time in (Formula 1) ends, I have had a wonderful experience and achieved good results. If the right opportunity arises to return, I will return. But I feel at peace with myself, and accept that I do not have to return if this opportunity does not materialize.”
