Bayern versus Barcelona is also called Mané versus Lewandowski. The new striker star should make the ex-scorer forget in Munich. According to Müller, the centre-forward debate offers “a target for attack”.
When he meets Robert Lewandowski again in the Champions League, FC Bayern Munich automatically focuses on Sadio Mané.
The center forward debate in the German soccer champions is linked to the star striker signed by Liverpool FC, who is supposed to make the ex-scorer forget.
The 30-year-old Mané got off to a great start in Munich with three goals in the Bundesliga and further goals in the Supercup and DFB-Pokal. But before the direct comparison with world footballer Lewandowski on the grass of the Allianz Arena at the group summit between FC Bayern and FC Barcelona, Mané falters. The initial momentum is gone. “I think he’s missing a can opener,” said coach Julian Nagelsmann before the game.
Nagelsmann: Mané “sometimes maybe too critical”
The lightning-fast Senegalese had “many situations where he was offside, where he scored offside goals, which are a bit of a mood killer when you’re happy about a goal,” said Nagelsmann. Before the Barça game, he discussed the situation with Africa’s footballer of the year. “Sadio is critical, sometimes maybe too critical. He thinks a little too much,” said Nagelsmann. He advises Mané to be more self-confident on the pitch and to trust in his abilities as a leader: “He’s welcome to appear a bit positively arrogant. I’ve already praised his selfless nature, too much of it isn’t good either.”
Mané is not an egoist on the pitch, he always has an eye for those around him. “I’m not critical of his performance. I don’t think he’s reached his peak yet,” said Nagelsmann. But he is looking forward to this performance highlight: “I’m basically satisfied with his job so far.”
Thomas Müller believes that it will be some time before the “outstanding goalscorer” Lewandowski is past in Munich. “We have a new situation here,” said the offensive player, who will be 33 on the day of the match: “We don’t have one clear centre-forward. We usually have four offensive players up front who can theoretically play in all positions. If we don’t then If we deliver a good result, that’s a target we offer. Criticism can always start there: where is the clear target player?”
In games with a lot of goals, you’ve already benefited from “the fact that our opponent doesn’t know where the clear target player is”. Müller believes that the center forward debate will be confronted even more frequently in the coming weeks and months.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
