Bayern Munich vs Freiburg: Thomas Tuchel has of course not turned everything 180 degrees at Bayern Munich since he took over from Julian Nagelsmann, but the new trainer had an unpleasant surprise for Sadio Mane. The Senegalese started on the bench in the top match against Borussia Dortmund.
Bayern humbles Mane: “He is still looking for himself”
That he had to give way, in this case to Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting as striker, is new for the attacker, who has not had to worry about his starting place in important games in his long spell at Liverpool. Managing director Oliver Kahn also notes that Mane will face things at the Allianz Arena that he was spared at Anfield, particularly in terms of competition.
“Sadio is a phenomenon in his own way. He is still looking for himself at Bayern. We have a lot of competition on the flanks, which is new for him. I don’t think he had that at Liverpool, that there was so much quality on the wings. Sometimes he was in the center with us, but then Choupo-Moting got into great shape. That is his situation now, he is not familiar with it,” said the former top goalkeeper in Kicker.
Thomas Tuchel admits that Mane has not yet found his Liverpool form
His trainer Thomas Tuchel is less worried, it turned out at a press conference. “I remember him from England. He is an absolute top player, no questions about that. I think in the toughest league in the world he has scored 20 to 30 goals every year for Liverpool. He has an extraordinary level, has won all the trophies with Liverpool and was really a key player there. Its importance and potential are beyond dispute,” said the former Chelsea coach.
The coach understands that he has not yet found his Liverpool form. “Even the most experienced players have to acclimatize to a new club, and then an injury comes over. Players like Sadio are sensitive and can lose some of their confidence and form, that’s the key. There is no doubt about his quality, it is now about trust and patience,” he adds.
Bayern continues its season on Tuesday evening with a quarter-final in the DFB-Pokal, SC Freiburg is a guest. After another encounter against Freiburg, now away and in the Bundesliga, the Champions League cracker awaits at home against Manchester City in eight days.
