After the dispute with the suspended Sadio Mané, not only many eyes will be on Leroy Sané in FC Bayern’s Bundesliga game. Dayot Upamecano, who played a key role in the loss at Manchester City, is also in focus and wants to use the game on Saturday (3:30 p.m. / Sky) against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim as a build-up game.
“We always support our players. He knows himself that he made mistakes. We were punished for it. He was in top form before, in the games against Freiburg and Dortmund he was our best-formed player,” said coach Thomas Tuchel.
The 24-year-old central defender had lost the ball for the 0: 2 and caused great uncertainty in the Munich team. In the end, Bayern lost the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League in Manchester 0-3. “Of course he needs development work. It’s important that we treat each other openly, appreciatively and critically and that he knows that we won’t let him down,” said Tuchel.
Upamecano did not want to comment after the final whistle. His teammates sent kind words. “It’s important that he believes in his strengths. He’s an outstanding player,” said Joshua Kimmich.
In contrast to the French, Sané was one of the best Bayern stars against the Manchester superiority of ex-coach Pep Guardiola. He should demonstrate that the dispute with Mané is not slowing him down in the recent positive performance development. A Sané in top form would be important for the second leg in the premier class on Wednesday against the title favorites if a football miracle and the semi-finals are to succeed. The Munich team want to get a good feeling against Hoffenheim.
Mané could return to the squad against Manchester. The Senegalese has not found top form after a long injury break. “Sometimes it seems that it is, but sometimes it’s not a physical problem, but the lack of ease,” said Tuchel. “I hope that through trust, closeness and real appreciation we can get him back to where he was: an absolute top striker in the most difficult league in the world.”
