Butt concedes defeat in Neuer ´keeper battle

Bayern Munich veteran Hans-Joerg Butt on Monday admitted he was unlikely to dislodge rival Manuel Neuer as Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper.

“I have to be realistic,” Butt, 36, told sport magazine Kicker.

“I’m not under any illusions about the Germany team. It’s always something special to be selected again. And I’m happy to have been able to play a match at the World Cup.”

Butt played for Germany in the third-place play-off match in South Africa, a 3-2 win over Uruguay.

Neuer, 24, was Germany’s number one throughout the tournament and coach Joachim Loew recently announced that the Schalke shot-stopper would begin their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign as the first-choice goalkeeper.

“Manuel had a good World Cup. It think it was the right decision. And it’s important to have a degree of clarity for such an important position,” said Butt, who has four international caps, on Loew’s decision.

“Hopefully he’ll establish himself as the long-term number one. He hasn’t finished developing and he has to become more consistent in his performances.”

Butt added that he felt Neuer could go on to make as many international appearances as his illustrious predecessors Sepp Maier, who won 95 caps, or Oliver Kahn, who represented his country on 86 occasions.