Out of Neuer’s shadow, Ulreich eager to shine in Europe

BERLIN: With Manuel Neuer still sidelined, Sven Ulreich is relishing his time in the spotlight as Bayern Munich’s goalkeeper.

The 29-year-old, who was suddenly elevated to the club’s first-choice role in September when World Cup winner Neuer fractured his foot in training, will be between the posts against Sevilla at Munich’s sold-out Allianz Arena in the Champions League.

Bayern hold a 2-1 advantage from the first leg and are bidding to reach the last four for the seventh time in nine seasons.While the likes of Thomas Mueller and Robert Lewandowski are accustomed to playing in the knockout stages of European competition, it is a novelty for Ulreich.

“Seville was a super experience, it was a good match. I was really happy to be able to play a quarter-final of the Champions League,” he said.With Ulreich in goal, Bayern wrapped up the Bundesliga title last Saturday with a 4-1 win at Augsburg and their focus is now firmly on Europe.

However for Ulreich, his current situation was almost unimaginable before Neuer succumbed to injury early in the season.Ulreich, who started his career at his home town club Stuttgart, was facing another campaign as Neuer’s understudy until the Germany star again fractured a bone in the foot he originally injured last April.

Bayern head coach Jupp Heynckes, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti as head coach at the start of October, says Ulreich has developed dramatically in that time.“Sven Ulreich was a totally insecure goalkeeper when I came in - with little self-esteem and no recognition,” said Heynckes in Tuesday’s press conference.

“That has changed immensely over time.“He has not only become one of the best goalkeepers in the Bundesliga, but has earned recognition from the media and fans.“He has won us several games and, of course, it helped that I said he was my Number One.

“That trust relationship is very important for him.”Ulreich joined Bayern in 2015 from Stuttgart and 24 of his 47 Bundesliga appearances for the Bavarians have come this season, as a result of Neuer’s absence.

He was thrust into the starting side as Bayern’s only non-international player, but Ulreich has seized his chance with consistent performances to help fill the void left by Neuer.“The expectations were enormous, if I had let a few in, people would have quickly said ‘Manu would have kept that out!’” Ulreich told Kicker magazine.