【Perez公器私用練英文049】
Auf Wiedersehen, Germany 告別日耳曼
原文網址：https://www.theplayerstribune.com/posts/manuel-neuer-soccer-germany-bundesliga-bayern-munich
時間：2024/08/23
作者：Manuel Neuer
Dear Germany,
親愛的德國：
I don’t usually do stuff like this. I’m a very private guy. But now that I’m retiring from the national team, I want to write a little more than just an Instagram post. I want to explain to you what Germany means to me. What football means to me.
我通常不會做這種事。我是個很重隱私的人。但在我即將從國家隊退役的當下，我想要比寫篇IG貼文再多記一下一點點想法(Perez譯註：一篇IG貼文字數上限是2600左右)。我想要跟大家解釋德國對我來說代表了什麼。足球對我來說代表了什麼。
Because honestly, this decision was difficult.
I was torn between my head and my heart.
因為說老實話，下這個決定是何其艱難。
我的腦跟我的心，意見簡直兩難到要將我撕裂。
My heart was saying, “You will miss this so much. You will miss the pride of playing for your country. You will miss the feeling of being around the guys.”
「你會念念不忘的。你會想念為你的國家掛帥出征的榮耀、你會想念跟這些哥們同在的感覺。」
我的心這麼說。
But after speaking to my family, I feel that I am going out at the right moment.
但在跟我的家人們談過後，我感覺到我該在正確的時候揮揮衣袖告辭了。
I would have loved to say goodbye by winning the Euros, but just being at the tournament and seeing everyone get behind a new generation of German football felt like an incredible victory. You have to remember where I was coming from.
我很期盼可以在贏下歐國盃冠軍的情況下跟大家揮別，但僅僅身在這場大賽中，看到大夥對新一代的德國足球員蓄勢待發的支持，就像是一場意義非凡的勝利。你得清楚，我當時是從哪裡回來國家隊的。
Just 18 months ago, I was wondering whether I would ever play football again.
僅僅一年半前，我一度懷疑我這輩子還能不能再踢球了。
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| Julian Baumann for The Players' Tribune |
At first when I broke my leg, I was thinking that it wasn’t such a big deal. The helicopter would pick me up, the doctors would do their thing and I would be back on the pitch. But when I got to the hospital, it became very clear that this was not just a normal fracture. My future as a footballer was in doubt.
首先是我摔斷了腿，當時的我還覺得那不是什麼大事。直升機會把我載下山、醫療團隊會善盡其職後我就會回到球場上。但當我到醫院時，狀況變得清楚，這不是什麼單純骨折。我的足球員生涯，未來有如墮入迷霧。
The hardest part was the worrying. One moment you are out skiing, the next you are staring into a hospital wall, thinking that this passion that has been part of your identity all your life can be taken away from you.
擔慮是最可怕的事情。前個瞬間你還在雪地中恣意滑行，下個瞬間你就在瞪著醫院的牆壁，思索著構成你一輩子自我認同的一部分(足球)，可能要跟你永別了。
I was scared. I think anyone would be.
我感到恐懼。我想這是人之常情。
I spent a week in the hospital, and then the therapist and the doctor began coming to our house every day. I’ll never forget the relief I felt when they told me that I would be okay. And I remember Christmas that year, when I invited the doctor and his family to have coffee with us. After the treatment, we had a great afternoon all together at our house — his family and mine. The medical staff at Bayern were also a crucial part of the recovery process.
我在醫院待了一週，接著物理治療師跟醫生開始日復一日造訪我們家。我永遠不會忘記當他們告訴我我可以康復如初時的解脫感。我也記得那年聖誕，我邀請了醫生一家人來跟我一起喝咖啡。在治療之後，我們兩家人，在我家有個美好的下午。在拜仁慕尼黑的療程也是復原計畫的一大關鍵部分。
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| Courtesy of Manuel Neuer |
After a few months, I was setting dates for a series of comebacks.
幾個月後，我迎向一系列回歸的日程。
First steps on my own.
傷後自己跨出第一步。
First time running again.
傷後第一次跑起步。
First training.
第一次重新訓練。
First game.
第一次重新打球。
Every target, I missed.
每個射正，我是都沒撲到啦。
But what I am proud of is that I never quit. I kept pushing. And with the help of my family members, friends and teammates, I returned to the pitch in October 2023, less than seven months before the Euros.
但我為了我的不放棄而感到驕傲。我持之以恆的努力。並且在家人、朋友、隊友的支持下，我在歐國盃七個月前的2023年的10月重返球場。
When I was announced in the tournament squad, it was one of the proudest achievements of my life.
當我被宣布在歐國盃大名單時，那是我人生中最值得驕傲的幾個成就之一。
A small miracle.
一個渺小的奇蹟。
Of course, many people doubted that I could still be our number one. I was 38, and I had been out for nearly a year. But the staff gave me the assurances that I needed to fight for the spot, and I knew that I had been performing well. I even told myself that maybe my real age was 35, if you added up all the injuries I’d had — the time that had been stolen from me.
當然，許多人對於我是否還是首發門將表示懷疑。我已經38歲了，遠離球場已有一年之久。但職員向我確保我得關鍵時刻挺身而出的必要，並且我也知道我可以表現得很好了。我甚至跟我自己說，我的身體年紀可能才35歲，如果你把我傷病的時間──那些被偷走的時間──取走不計的話。
When our first game started, I felt that thrill of competing in a major tournament. I blocked out everything. I was in my favorite place on earth….
當我們的第一場比賽開打，我感覺到大錦標賽彼此競爭的賁張感。我把一切格擋於外，這是我全地球最喜歡的地方...
Between the posts. Playing for my country.
為了我的國家，站在兩根門柱之間。
And I remember feeling the enthusiasm from the crowd again. As a team, we had worked very hard to win back that feeling, you know?
我也還記得從人聲嘈雜之中，感覺到欣欣向榮的樂觀。你知道，作為一支隊伍，我們要多努力才能夠把這種感覺重新贏回來嗎？
That bond between the team and the people, that sense that we stand together as one country — we had missed that. At the Euros, we felt it again.
那種球隊與國民之間一心、作為同一個國家齊力相挺的感覺──我們很想念它。而在歐洲盃，我們重新感受到了。
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| Michael Regan/UEFA via Getty Images |
We had already sensed it when we first met up at our camp. When we trained together, you could tell that every single one of us knew how much was at stake. And in our downtime, we had this incredible atmosphere in the group. You know when you are a kid, and school is finally over, and you get a whole summer to play around with your friends? That’s what it felt like.
我們已經在第一次在訓練營集訓時，就能感受到這股氛圍。當我們一起訓練，你可以說我們每個人都知道傾注了多少。而在休息時間，我們有著不可思議的團體氛圍。你想像看看，在你的孩提時光，學期結束了，而你有一整個夏天可以跟你的朋友鬼混玩耍，的那種感覺嗎？這種感覺亦若斯。
We were playing poker and boccia and darts and table tennis. I think I beat almost everyone at cornhole, but we had a little problem, because I am super competitive — even for a coin toss, I fight to win — and we had this other guy on our team who literally refuses to lose.
我們會共聚一夥，打撲克牌、玩滾球、射飛鏢、打桌球(?)。玩沙包，因為球的話我幾乎可以打趴所有人，然而有個小小問題，因為我超愛跟別人比──就連擲硬幣我都要拚到贏──而我們隊上，恰好也有個傢伙基本上是拒絕失敗的。
Thomas Müller.
湯瑪士穆勒。
He knew I was going to beat him at cornhole, so he simply refused to play. He said I was cheating.
它知道我要在沙包球上贏過他，所以他直接放棄比賽。他說我作弊。
“You’re too good at throwing.”
「你太會擲球了啦。」
That’s Thomas. What can you do?
那就是湯瑪士的性子。你是能做什麼？
Of course, it was a bitter feeling to lose the quarterfinal, but I believe that we started something new this summer. We built a young squad, with a clear identity and the support of the German people.
當然，在八強賽敗北的感覺是苦澀的，但我確信我們這個夏天點醒了些新的契機。我們建構了一隻年輕的隊伍，有著清楚的個性與全德人民的支持。
We were a team, which we have not always managed in the past.
我們是一支隊伍，但以前我們沒有好好管理這件事。
I hope we began a new chapter for German football.
我希望我們能開啟德國足球的新章。
When I went on holiday, I had a lot of positive feelings. Everyone had been happy about my performance, and I could feel that the emotional part of me wanted to continue. I would love to keep going with this team, because I believe in it, and I have invested so much in it.
當我去休假的時候，我接獲到了許多正能量。每個人都對我的表現感到開心，並且我能感受到我的感性面要我再續征戰。如果我能跟這支球隊在南征北討我會很開心的，因為我相信這支隊伍，並且我也在其中投入了許多。
But if I had joined the team for this next cycle, I would have signed up for the 2026 World Cup, when I will be 40. At the moment, my body makes me feel very good, but nobody can look into the future.
但如果我在下個大循環繼續待在隊上，我得一直堅持26年世界盃，也就是我40歲的時候。此時此刻，我的身體感覺還很好，但沒有人能預見彼時彼刻。
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| Julian Baumann |
Five months ago, right before the Euros, I also became a father for the first time.
五個月前，也大概是歐洲杯開始之前，我也初為人父。
When I talked it over with my friends and family, the decision became clear.
當我跟我的親友談到這一點時，答案在我眼前變得清晰。
This is the right time.
現在正是時候了。
Thankfully, goodbyes are easier when you have so many good memories.
感謝上蒼，當你抱著許多美好回憶時，「再見」是更容易說出口的。
Soon we will have the 10-year anniversary of the 2014 World Cup. It’s the one all us former players still talk about, and the funny thing is that it actually started badly. We beat Portugal in the first game, but Pepe got sent off early and we didn’t really play that well. And our training camp at Bahia was ... interesting. I remember lying in my bed and seeing rainwater drip through the roof. When I was trying to sleep, these wild, exotic animals were chirping and howling outside my window. I felt like I was in a nature documentary.
很快會是我們贏得2014世界盃的十週年。我們這些當時的球員們直到現在都津津樂道，而且有趣的事情是一開始其實開展得並不順利。我們首戰擊敗葡萄牙，但是在佩佩被提早送下場的前提下發生的，我們並沒有踢得這麼好。而我們在巴赫亞的訓練場環境很......有趣。我還記得我躺在我的床上，看著雨水沿著屋頂傾滑而下。而當我試著入睡時，各類異地異國的動物們，正在我的窗外或竊竊私語，或引吭高呼。我感覺我像是置身在一部自然紀錄片裡頭。
Caww!!! Caww!!! Raaahhh!!!
「咳！」「咳！」「啊啊啊啊！」
Even the birds wouldn’t leave me in peace.
就連飛鳥也要我不得安寧。
After we had drawn our second game 2–2 against Ghana, I wrote a postcard to a friend back in Germany. Maybe I could have sent him a text message, but there is a certain charm to posting something by mail. The card had the beach and the sea on the front, and on the inside I wrote something like …
而當我們第二場比賽跟迦納2-2踢平時，我寫了張明信片給了我德國的朋友。我可以傳文字簡訊給他，但是用郵件寄出更有種獨有的魅力。明信片上是海灘與大海，在背面我這麼寫著...
“ … I think we will leave the tournament very early. My feeling really is not the best. But we are working hard … ”
「......我想我們要早早離開這場大賽了。這真的不是我的最佳狀態，但我們很努力了......」
It sounds ridiculous now, you know? Football is a funny sport.
你知道，現在聽起很荒謬吧？足球就是這麼有趣的運動。
But this was honestly how I was feeling.
但那真的是我當時最如假包換的想法。
Then we got out of the group, got a few ugly wins, and suddenly we were in the semifinals against Brazil, who were missing Neymar and were under so much pressure. The 7–1 was a surprise to us, too. After the game, we hugged the Brazilians, because we knew them from our games in Europe, and we had a lot of sympathy for how difficult their situation was. Since we did our victory lap in a quiet way, out of respect for the hosts, I think we won over a lot of Brazilian fans for the final. One of my favourite memories from that tournament is how well they treated us.
後來我們從小組中脫穎而出、贏下幾場醜陋的比賽，突然我們就在四強賽要對上巴西了，那之內馬爾缺席並且備受壓力的巴西。7-1對我們來說也是個大驚奇。而在那場比賽後，我們跟巴西球員們相擁，因為我們在歐洲職業比賽與他們認識，也能對他們處境多艱難感同身受的憐憫。作為對主辦國的尊重，我們低調進行慶祝，我想這為我們在決賽時帶來了許多巴西支持者。我在那界大賽中，最好的回憶之一，就是他們願意怎麼款待我們。
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| Frank Augstein/AP Images |
And that final ………… You know what my favourite part was? The same as my favourite part of any win.
而在決賽......你知道我最愛的部分是哪一塊嗎？跟我在每一場比賽最愛的部分一模一樣。
The final whistle.
比賽結束的吹哨聲。
Once the whistle blows, you can finally enjoy it. I remember that we all came together, hugging and laughing on the grass at the Maracanã. In Germany we call it a “shock moment.” It is when a couple of seconds feels like forever.
當哨聲響起，你才終於能享受勝利的果實，我記得當我們奔向彼此、相擁、歡笑在馬拉卡納的綠茵上。我們在德文用「衝擊的一刻」來形容那瞬間，匆匆幾秒，彷若生生世世之長。
Suddenly I got flashbacks to all these moments that had led me there.
突然，我的腦中跑馬燈般閃過，所有帶我來到冠軍的每個瞬間。
Like when I first walked out onto the pitch at Schalke at four years old, and no one else wanted to play in goal, so my coach said, “Manuel, you’re the keeper now.”
好比我四歲時候，第一次走入沙爾克球場，沒有人想當守門員，教練就跟我說：「曼努埃爾，你現在去當守門員。」
Like when my mom had to replace our washing machine every two years because my clothes were so dirty from playing on this clay pitch, diving for loose balls and coming home looking like a dog who had rolled around in the mud.
好比我媽需要每兩年汰換一部洗衣機，因為我的衣服在泥濘不堪的球場上玩得太髒了，為了低球下竄、而後像是一條泥巴裡打滾的狗回到家裡。
Like when I would play out in the street with my friends as a midfielder, so I could finally play with the ball at my feet.
好比我會在街頭跟朋友踢球時當中場，這樣我才終於能靠我的腳來真正踢球。
Like when I had to leave my family and friends behind to go to boarding school so that I could pursue my dream, and how lonely I was there, and how I would ask, “Why am I making life so hard for myself? Is it really worth it?”
好比我得離開我的親友，去上寄宿青訓學校來追逐我的夢想，我當下是何其孤單，又會如何自問：「我幹嘛把我的生活自己搞得這麼艱辛？這真的值得嗎？」
Well, Manu....
好吧，曼努......
Yes, it was worth it.
是啦，它值得。
You did it for that feeling you got when you heard the final whistle.
你是為了在決賽終場哨聲響起，重新體會這樣的雪泥鴻爪而做的。
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| Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images |
Maybe I could have won the Euros, too, but I have no regrets. When my son grows up and people talk about his father playing for Germany, I hope that my legacy is that I played without fear, and that I helped my teammates be better players every day.
也許我也有機會贏得歐國盃，但我已然無悔。當我兒子長大、人們談到他父親為德國隊比賽，我希望我被傳唱的，是我比賽時的無懼，與日日夜夜都在幫助隊友變得更好。
If that is what they’ll say about me, I'll be happy.
如果這是他們談到我時會說的，我會很高興的。
Now I can focus on helping Bayern return to where we belong. At 38, I still have this childlike passion for football. If I see a ball lying on the grass 20 metres away, I have to run over and do something with it. Kick-ups, headers … something. I can’t let it sit there alone. It’s a crime against football. My coaches laugh, because I look like this little kid who has just discovered the game, but it has always been this way for me.
現在我可以全神貫注在幫助拜仁奪回該有的(榮譽)了。在38歲的年齡，我對足球仍有孩子一般的熱情。如果我看到一顆球在二十公尺外的綠地，我也會奔向它並試著踢踢它、頂球......之類的。我沒辦法坐著視若無睹。這可是對足球犯罪。我的教練會笑我，因為我像是第一次發現「足球」這個運動的小小孩，而我始終貫徹此道。
The day I no longer run over to get that ball, I know it will be time to stop.
當我有一天不會再奔下那顆球，就是我停下腳步的時候了。
But as far as the national team goes, I will be watching my former teammates as one more fan. I appreciate all of you guys, for the work we have put in together, for the memories we have shared, for all the laughs and the jokes.
當德國隊繼續往前，我將更會以一個球迷的身分，看著我的前隊友拚搏。我對你們每個夥伴都心存感激，關於我們一起做到的事、分享的回憶，與每個笑聲跟笑話。
I’ll miss you.
我會想念你們的。
Keep building on what we started.
請在我們開始的努力上，繼續構築不懈。
Don’t lose that feeling.
不要忘記那種感覺。
Thank you for everything.
為了每件事情，謝謝你們。
Your keeper,
你的守門員
— Manu
曼奴
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