Why Nagelsmann is sticking with Sané
Basler leathers against Gnabry: “Runs around like counterfeit money”
Leroy Sané is struggling with discipline problems again. Again the Bayern star has to deal with punctuality. With this behavior, he cannot assume a leadership role in the team.
At 10:02 a.m. on Friday, Leroy Sané drove up to Säbener Straße in his black Audi RS e-tron. A good 120 seconds after the official meeting point, which at FC Bayern is set at one hour before the start of training.
Two minutes that are actually not worth mentioning. If it weren’t for Leroy Sané and if it wouldn’t happen again. Will he never learn it is the question that inevitably springs to mind.
Missed bus departure before the away game against Borussia Mönchengladbach, recurring unpunctuality during the season: Sané delivers food to his critics free of charge.
Why does a professional who treats himself and his achievements in a considered manner, a person who cares about what people think about him, do this?
A topic that also keeps Julian Nagelsmann busy. “Each player has their own character and personality. It’s important that you respect and accept that and try to deal with it,” he defended the German international at the press conference before Bayern Munich’s home game against FC Augsburg. (DATA: The table of the Bundesliga)
Nagelsmann on Sané: “Can flip the switch in the game”
The FCB coach stressed that he was trying to “pull out Sané’s strengths. He sometimes has a special style in training, but everyone knows about it and it probably won’t change. The question is, do you want that to change,” explained the 35-year-old.
Despite rather mixed performances in the last few games, Nagelsmann backed the offensive player. “He can flip the switch in the game. When he loses the ball, he sprints back. But that has always been the case.”
The narrative of the listless fair-weather gambler does not fit with the fact that Sané on Säbener Straße has recently been working extra shifts.
And yet the striker often gets in his own way and always involuntarily offers a target for attack. His sloppiness causes him unnecessary problems and annoys him – including himself. The reactions to it touch him, keep him busy. Similar to Serge Gnabry, he is easily dragged down by a certain negativity.
Sané will never be a leader with this behavior
Nevertheless, in Nagelsmann’s eyes, the two problem children are still possible “decision-makers at important moments. That’s what I want to see, that they have that trust, even if there are a lot of things written around them that aren’t super comfortable for either of them. Where they are not always blameless, but not guilty either. They just have certain traits. And that’s a good thing,” emphasized the coach.
He knows that Sané polarizes, “but you either get along with it and work with him. Or he no longer plays at Bayern Munich. But I want him to play at Bayern Munich because he has exceptional ability.”
Nagelsmann’s remarkable monologue
Nagelsmann has not escaped the fact that Sané’s condition has an influence on these abilities, which is why he is trying “to show him what it takes so that he doesn’t offend so much with certain things.”
So far without any resounding success. Which is why public opinion on Sané continues to differ.
Nagelsmann believes in him
Nagelsmann remains loyal to his protégé – but now also formulated a clear demand.
“I expect characters like this to tip the scales when it matters – and not streamline their boot like everyone else.”
Be different, do different things than everyone expects. That sounds a lot like Leroy Sané.