At the traditional Paulaner photoshoot for FC Bayern Munich, captain Manuel Neuer had to teach an unusual skill to youngsters Nathaniel Brown and Lennart Karl. The goalkeeper showed the academy players how to open a beer bottle without a bottle opener.
The annual photoshoot with the long-term brewery partner took place on Tuesday. Players always pose with the sponsor's beer. For the talents Brown, 19, and Karl, 18, it was their first time at this event. They initially seemed puzzled by the task of opening the bottle.
Neuer steps in as instructor
Manuel Neuer observed the scene and stepped in. The experienced captain, who knows the ritual from over a decade of participation, demonstrated the correct technique. He placed the bottle cap on the edge of a table and struck it with the flat of his hand. The bottle was open. Brown and Karl then successfully tried it themselves. "That's how it's done," Neuer said laughing to the pair.
The moment created a relaxed atmosphere within the squad. Such incidents are part of the team-building that goes beyond just taking pictures. For the young players, it's a chance to integrate into the first-team environment. Both are key figures for the reserve team, which plays in the Regionalliga Bayern. Brown, a left-back, and Karl, a defensive midfielder, regularly train with the senior squad.
Bayern's next competitive fixtures are already set. Vincent Kompany's team faces VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga on Saturday. Prior to the photoshoot, the team had completed an intense training session at the FC Bayern Campus. The injury list remains lengthy with Kingsley Coman and Raphaël Guerreiro, details are available under injuries.
The Paulaner shoot is a fixed tradition in the record champion's calendar. It often marks the start of pre-season or, as in this instance, a phase within the campaign. The resulting images are used for marketing campaigns by the brewery partner. For Neuer, it was a simple task after he played 32 Bundesliga games last season, completing his comeback from a long injury layoff. The youngsters looked relieved after the lesson and subsequently posed confidently with their opened bottles for the cameras.
