Keeper defends his rejection again
©IMAGO
Goalkeeper Bernd Leno has once again defended his decision not to return to the national team. “It was presented as if I had told the national coach that I would only come if I was number one. This was not the case. I spoke to Julian about it – as well as the goalkeeping coach – and expressed my views to him openly and honestly. He behaved properly,” the 32-year-old said on “Klick & Rush,” a “Sky” podcast for the Premier League.
After the unavailability of Marc-André ter Stegen, national coach Julian Nagelsmann wanted to name Leno, who plays for FC Fulham, as number three in the last international matches. But that was not enough for the nine-time national player. Leno explained that he would prefer to train in London without a match commitment. Nagelsmann did not approve of the move and said its rejection “would not open the door further.” Instead of Leno, he named Salzburg’s Janis Blaswich as the third goalkeeper. Nations League appearances against Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Netherlands were shared by Stuttgart’s Alexander Nübel and Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann.
Is it possible for Leno to return to the DFB team?
« I saw it like this: Nübel and Baumann got a match and then I said I was probably not the right man to be there as number three, » explained Leno, who is behind ter Stegen with a market value of 13 million euros the most. The prized German goalkeeper says: “It didn’t look like I would have a chance. »
He did not intend for this issue to become so popular in the media. Leno was also clear: « It was always a privilege for me to be a national player. He couldn’t say if he would return to the national team. » “In the end, no one will be brought back by nonsense. If I perform exceptionally well, I can come back – that’s what Julian also told the press. Nagelsmann’s next and final nomination for this year will take place next Thursday.
