Despite a 4-1 win, the Dutchman has talked up the goalkeeper’s influence after he made a string of great saves to keep his side in the lead
Arjen Robben has hailed Manuel Neuer as the reason Bayern Munich were able to beat Koln on Friday, with the Bundesliga leaders winning 4-1.
Goals from Bastian Schweinsteiger and Franck Ribery gave Bayern an early two goal lead but Anthony Ujah halving the deficit on the stroke of half time.
The visitors came close to pulling level, but for some excellent saves from the goalkeeper before the Bavarian side regained control and stretched their lead through Robben and Robert Lewandowski.
And Robben has heaped praise upon the Germany No.1, insisting that without him, they would not have picked up the three points.
“It was a bit weird today,” he said after the game. “We started so well but then in the last 10 minutes of the first half we became a bit slower.
“I must say that Manuel Neuer gave us the win. He made some world class saves.”
Sporting director Matthias Sammer was not happy with the team’s display, but also singled out Neuer as the star of the show.
“We wobbled a bit and that should not happen to us,” he said. “It’s unnecessary. Manuel Neuer was very good, so was Ribery. But we cannot rely on individual quality forever.
“In their own stadium, Koln could have made it 2-2 and that should not happen to us.”