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Neuer leads Schalke to cup final rout

(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-05-23 07:59

BERLIN - Bayern Munich target Manuel Neuer captained Schalke 04 to its fifth German Cup title as second-division Duisburg was hammered 5-0 in Saturday's final on what may have been his last game for the club.

The 25-year-old has told Schalke he will not stay past June 2012 and with Bavarian giants Bayern waiting to sign him for a reported 25 million euros before next season, Neuer lifted the German Cup at Berlin's Olympic Stadium.

Bayern is in talks with Schalke about signing the Germany goalkeeper and it seems to be a case of when, not if, Neuer will go to Munich.

"I have no idea and I can't say when an announcement will be made, because I have no information and I am also waiting to hear," said Neuer after celebrating with his team.

And Schalke's bosses were tight-lipped on the issue.

"Tonight is not the right time to talk about that," said Schalke manager Horst Heldt when asked if Neuer had played his last game for the Royal Blues.

"We have won the cup final and now is the time to celebrate.

"We won't be announcing anything, because there is nothing to announce."

Neuer's side dominated the final and he was rarely troubled in goal.

Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored either side of halftime, teenage midfielder Julian Draxler got the first, while goals from midfielder Jose Jurado and defender Benedikt Hoewedes completed the rout.

"We played with great concentration and in the end it was, thank God, a clear result," said Schalke manager Ralf Rangnick, who won his first title as a coach.

After Dortmund won the German league title, Gelsenkirchen-based Schalke has now completed the Ruhr Valley double.

Having beaten Bundesliga sides Kaiserslautern and Cologne on its way to the final, Duisburg was deperately outplayed and lacked the firepower to trouble the Champions League semifinalist.

Agence France-Presse