Solidarity of Die Mannschaft

Loew reflective on corona as Neuer leads donation appeal

GERMANY COACH Joachim Loew says he has been moved by the impact of the coronavirus while national captain Manuel Neuer is leading a campaign for donations to social causes.

“The last days have kept me very busy and thoughtful,” Loew told a

German federation (DFB) press conference yesterday. “The world has experienced a collective burn-out.”

In keeping with the current advise during the crisis, the DFB introduced president Fritz Keller in

Frankfurt while Loew and DFB director Oliver Bierhoff spoke from

Freiburg and

Munich respectively. Journalists also asked questions via video link.

The postponement of Euro 2020 to 2021 was “the completely correct decision without alternative,” said Loew. “Football is at the back, other things are now more important.”

The coronavirus, he said, has “the world under its control. What counts for me now is what about family and friends, where can I support the people around me?”

Loew also spoke of the constant pursuit of “power, still better results, records.

“Environmental disasters only touched us marginally. Now we have experienced something that impacts every person, the whole humanity.” With the Bundesliga suspended until at least April 2 and the March international window scrapped, Loew and Germany will not be in action until at least June – and even that depends on the course of the virus.

Neuer, meanwhile, called on fans to make donations after the national team dug into their pockets to lead by example.

“We have to look out for each other at this time – we have also had our thoughts and donate €2.5 million (RM12m) to a good cause,” the 33-year-old Neuer in a national team Instagram video.

“We are all quite a big team, not only on the football pitch but also in our society,” he said.

“You realise that in times like these.”

Bayern Munich keeper Neuer was joined in the video by club teammates Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka, Borussia Monchengladbach’s Matthias Ginter, RB Leipzig’s Lukas Klostermann, Robin Koch and Luca Waldschmidt of Freiburg and Jonathan Tah of Bayer Leverkusen).

“We should all be aware of our responsibility and show solidarity right now,” said Kimmich, who thanked those already contributing – above all those in health professions but also people “who make sure that the chain of care continues to remain intact.”

Goretzka said: “Football has stopped for the moment and health is most important. That is quite right. We are standing in front of a big societal problem that impacts us all and not just the older generation.”

Ginter added: “Let’s make a signal that we stand together in difficult times.” – dpa

We are all quite a big team, not only on the football pitch but also in our society.”