‘Give him back to us then’, ‘Swap for Mahrez or Sterling’ – Man City fans reacts to Germany legend’s criticism of Leroy Sane

Many Manchester City fans have been reacting to a post on twitter that relays a comments by Germany legend Lothar Matthäus concerning Leroy Sané to Bayern Munich move this summer.

Sané moved to Munich in a £40.5m deal in the summer after more than a year of speculation about a transfer to the German giants. He became City’s first, and as yet only, prized asset to snub the club for pastures elsewhere during the Sheikh Mansour era.

It would be difficult to argue that Sané’s time at the Etihad was anything but successful. From his three proper, uninterrupted seasons at City, he won two league titles, two League Cups and the FA Cup, registering 25 goals and 28 assists from 90 Premier League appearances.

Sane started life in Munich well but it has not turned out how he would have anticipated, with him struggling to get past Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry in Hansi Flick’s starting eleven.

According to Bayern legend Lothar Matthaus, Sane will stand a much better chance of starting if he offers more help to his full-back, a problem dating back to his City days.

“Being a regular would mean that he has to get past Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry. The hurdle is high. Sané was injured for a long time,” he told t-online.

“He has to get used to the FC Bayern system, the high and aggressive pressing. He has deficits on the defensive side anyway. He has to work on that.

Matthäus’s criticism of his tendency to lose possession is an echo of a sentiment shared by Guardiola whilst he looked at the peak of his powers.

“Pep Guardiola has already criticised him for it at Manchester City. That’s probably why he let him go because Sané doesn’t work backwards as he imagines. He still has to learn about moving backwards. Gnabry and Coman have internalised that.”

The winger has five goals and three assists in 16 appearances this season, but has started just half of those games and completed 90 minutes just twice.

You can find some of their comments from Twitter below:

Bring him back if y’all don’t want him then

— Ummi 🌸 (@ummiii__a) December 21, 2020

Id have Sane back in a heartbeat. Swap for Mahrez or Sterling

— 🎶ᒍᗩᗰEᔕ🎶 (@James80sAnomaly) December 21, 2020

World class for sure.
Would I have him back.Damn right.
Would Pep have him back, I don’t think so.

— Alex (@agkm74) December 21, 2020

Spot on, if he were as good as he thinks he is you’d maybe allow it, but city had better players in Sterling, Mahrez and the time Bernardo.

Now he has the same problem at Bayern as they’ve got Gnabry, Coman abs D Costa. Petulant attitude/ poor application gonna kill his career.

— Crip Squirrel (@Mac69_69_69) December 21, 2020

Sane at maximum effort is miles clear of sterling and Mahrez combined

— Ethan 🍩 (@EthanCash17) December 21, 2020

So what if he doesn’t get back 100% of the time. What he offered going forward far outweighed that problem. Least he can shoot and his pace was frightening. He is a fantastic player and I’d have him back in a second

— GX Blue (@GXBlue) December 21, 2020

Yes I’m a bit surprised. All we’re hearing is negative news about him from these platforms. I think he should be left alone. He needs time to adapt just like we said of Rodri and Torres. Sané is world class on his day ad have us a lot. Respect is due.

— Kyrée (@ferranholic) December 21, 2020

Why do footballing greats criticize young players in such a way

— I’m 🆎 (@oddity1912) December 21, 2020