In comments shared by Fabrizio Romano via his official X handle, Aurelien Tchouameni has praised Manuel Neuer as a “legendary goalkeeper” following Real Madrid’s 2–1 defeat to FC Bayern Munich in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg.
Romano shared:
Aurélien Tchouaméni: We faced a legendary goalkeeper tonight….
Neuer, delivered an outstanding performance at the Santiago Bernabéu, making multiple key saves to frustrate Madrid’s attack and secure a crucial advantage for Bayern heading into the second leg. Softfootball earlier reported that Neuer’s display earned him UEFA Man of the Match honors and further cemented his reputation as one of the game’s all-time greats.
Tchouaméni’s remarks reflect the respect between elite players on Europe’s biggest stage, even amid intense competition.
However, the French midfielder will miss the return leg at the Allianz Arena after receiving a controversial yellow card in the first leg.
In other comments shared by Romano, speaking about the incident, Tchouaméni disputed the referee’s decision, insisting he made no tackle and was simply running when the booking was issued.
He suggested that referee Michael Oliver may have penalized him based on earlier fouls in the match. The suspension is a significant blow for Madrid, as it limits their defensive midfield options ahead of a decisive second leg.
Tchouaméni: My yellow card? I don’t know, I was only running, I didn’t even make any tackle. But the ref decided that, I think because there were a lot of fouls before, so I think he wanted to give a yellow, but I don’t really understand it.
Meanwhile, Neuer has continued to defy age with his performances, even expressing his enjoyment at Bayern and declaring, “I’m still here.” His leadership and consistency remain vital for the German side as they aim to progress further in the competition.
Manuel Neuer: I’m having fun with the team, at the club, with the coaching staff. It’s true that I’m 40, but I’m still here.
With Bayern holding a narrow lead and Madrid facing key absences, the return leg in Munich promises to be a high-stakes encounter.
