Bayern Munich: 16-year-old Leonard Prescott may have to play in goal in the Champions League
Bayern Munich could hand 16-year-old goalkeeper Leonard Prescott his first-team debut in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The German giants have three goalkeepers struggling with injuries and Prescott will play in the second leg of their last 16 tie against Atalanta if Jonas Erbig fails to recover from injury, head coach Vincent Kompany said.
Arbig suffered an injury in Bayern’s 6-1 win in Italy last week, while regular starter Manuel Neuer is working his way towards full fitness after suffering a muscle strain and third-choice keeper Sven Ulrich picked up an adductor issue in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen.
“Jonas trained normally today [Tuesday]. ” Tomorrow’s decision will be a clinical one,” Kompany said.
“If everything goes well, Arbig will be in goal. If not, we will have to find another solution.”
Prescott, a German youth international who plays for Bayern’s under-19s, will need clearance from German labour authorities to work evenings because he is a teenager.
He has been on Bayern’s bench in their last two matches, with fellow teenage keeper Leon Klanack, 19, also out with a thigh injury.
19-year-old reserve team keeper Janis Bartl has featured on the Bayern bench in two Bundesliga matches this season, but it is Prescott who Kompany will have to turn to if needed.
“He [Prescott] It is hushed. Overall, as an employee, we are also calm. If he plays tomorrow, he will get our full support. Everyone will help,” the company said.
“There will never be a young player who will be forced to play the lead role. No matter what happens tomorrow, we have full confidence in him.”
Neuer, a World Cup winner and 12-time Bundesliga champion with Bayern, has played 19 times in the league this season, with the 37-year-old’s last appearance coming on March 6.
The 22-year-old Urbig has made eight league appearances, including six starts, while the 37-year-old Ulrich made his first appearance of the season on Saturday.
Bayern, the reigning Bundesliga champions and current league leader, will face either Real Madrid or Manchester City in the last eight if they beat Atalanta.
