Despite the fans' extreme methods of opposition, the determination of Bayern Munich's manager Uli Hoeness and the management team to bring in Neuer never seemed to waver; on the other hand, Neuer has already confirmed in interviews with German media that he will not extend his contract with the club. This is the backdrop surrounding Neuer, captain of Schalke 04, before their away match against Inter Milan. Judging from various rumors, such news is not good for Ralf Rangnick's team. The lightning-fast goal by Stanislas Stanekovic at the 27th second seemed to confirm this trend's accuracy, because for a goalkeeper, there’s nothing worse than conceding a goal right at the start, especially when Stanekovic's powerful shot found the back of the net due to Neuer's poor clearance after rushing out of the penalty area. Subsequently, Neuer was breached again by Diego Milito. Although his teammates’ efforts allowed Schalke to enter halftime tied at 2-2, Neuer's first-half performance was far from ideal.
The unexpected events in the first half did not affect Neuer's second-half performance. If Raul's goal marked the beginning of the massacre at San Siro, then Neuer acted as a solid bulwark before Raul's goal. In the 47th minute, Wesley Sneijder's brilliant pass created a golden opportunity for Samuel Eto'o on the right side of the penalty area, but his close-range left-footed shot was brilliantly saved by Neuer with a quick reflex. It was precisely this spectacular save that prevented the team's defense from being breached again, laying the foundation for Raul's subsequent goal which reversed the score.
Although Neuer claims that he may leave Schalke next season, with Ralf Rangnick taking over and the team's strong performances in the Champions League, it is not impossible for Neuer to stay at Schalke. Currently, both Schalke and Neuer need to keep away from relegation in the league, strive hard in the Champions League, and most importantly, ensure victory in the DFB-Pokal final against Duisburg to secure a Europa League spot for next season. For Schalke's head coach Ralf Rangnick, the leverage to retain Neuer could be a Europa League ticket, a more stable lineup and results, but more importantly, the deep affection the national goalkeeper holds for Schalke 04.
In the counterattack by ten-man Inter Milan between the 70th and 80th minutes, Neuer effectively commanded the defense and calmly saved long shots from Eto'o, Sneijder, and others. Not only did the German international have moments of brilliance, but he also performed nearly perfectly in routine saves. It was precisely such performances that inspired the whole team to make a great comeback in the second half. Despite making mistakes earlier, Neuer led the team to an ultimate victory over the reigning champions who had defeated two Bundesliga teams (Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich), demonstrating the heavy responsibilities carried by the captain of the team.