Manuel Neuer drops new contract hint as Bayern end Pokal drought

The experienced goalkeeper was at the heart of Bayern's composed performance as they booked their place in the DFB-Pokal final, ending a frustrating five-year absence from the showpiece.

Neuer admitted the wait had been difficult. "I missed Berlin. It's annoying not getting to the final for so long because we know how special that game is," he said. "It's a special occasion for the fans, the players and the club. We took our chance today."

While Bayern controlled much of the semi-final, Neuer was quick to praise Leverkusen goalkeeper Mark Flekken, who kept the scoreline respectable with a string of saves.

"We could have scored more goals but Flekken was amazing," Neuer said. "We stayed focused and managed to get a deserved win."

Attention quickly turned to Neuer's future, with his current deal nearing its end. The 40-year-old remained cautious but suggested progress had been made behind the scenes.

"I'm not going to announce anything right now," he said. "But at the moment, it's looking good."

Bayern now turn their focus back to a demanding schedule, starting with a Bundesliga clash against Mainz 05 on 25 April. That is followed by a huge UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain on 28 April, before another league outing against VfL Wolfsburg on 9 May.

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