2017/2018 Manchester City Player Previews
Leroy Sane
After a slow start to City’s last season, Leroy Sane ended the campaign as one of City’s hottest players. Can the young German avoid another sluggish start in order to keep his place in an inSanely competitive City side?
Pep Guardiola often summed up Leroy Sane’s early season struggles last year to the young German being shy and lacking self-confidence. He was, after all, a 20-year-old moving to a new league in a new country. After several motivational speeches from the City manager, the rapid winger was able to overcome his nerves and improve at a rapid rate as the season progressed. He played so well that kept Spanish international Nolito out of the City side for the majority of the second half of the season. Now that he is settled to life in England and the premier league, Sane must continue to improve in an upgraded City side.
Leroy made 37 apps for City last season netting 9 goals and assisting 8. That’s a respectable return from a young winger but the expectation from City fans, and definitely Guardiola, is to see those numbers doubled for the 17/18 campaign. Sane should set a minimum target of 18 goals and 16 assists in all competitions. Although City’s defending was the subject of heavy criticism last season, a massive concern for Guardiola was the fact that City wasn’t clinical enough. Sane can lessen the burden on the likes of Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus by contributing with his goal scoring ability from the wings.At Schalke, Sane often played as a right winger allowing him to cut inside on to his favoured left foot. In contrast, he was used as a traditional left winger by Guardiola at City. He was ordered to attack the byline and get in behind defences using his extraordinary pace. As successful as this was for City, Sane was drained near the end of last season because of the demands placed on his body. One of the main reasons for this was because City lacked the fullbacks required to support Sane effectively. Sane was often asked to provide cover for the ageing Clichy and Kolarov by tracking back nonstop to protect them from opposing wingers.
This season at City I envision Guardiola using Sane in many ways. He could continue to play on the left by forming a deadly partnership with new left-back, Benjamin Mendy. The Frenchman also loves to burst forward and is one of the deadliest crossers of the ball in world football. However, I believe it is counterproductive to have Sane on the left if Mendy is there. The team doesn’t need two players to attack the byline to whip in balls to the strikers. Instead, I believe Guardiola will move him back over to the right wing by partnering him with another new city fullback, Kyle Walker. Sane and Walker have the potential to become one of the most menacing duos on the wings in world football. They’re arguably 1A and 1B in the Premier League in terms of pace. Couple them with Sterling and Mendy on the left, City most likely have the fastest counter attack we have seen in years.
Next: 2017-18 Manchester City Player Previews - Bernardo Silva
I expect City’s goal return to increase tenfold with the additions of the new fullbacks and both Sane and Sterling moving to their favoured positions. Kyle Walker overlapping and whipping crosses into the box while Sane cuts inside as a doppelganger of a young Arjen Robben will be a treat for not only City fans, but football fans in general.
One problem for Sane is that I just don’t see where he fits into the team if they play a 3-5-2. His brief appearances off the bench in the preseason proved that tracking back alone is not his strength. It also impacts his performances because he isn’t allowed the freedom he normally would have if he was paired with a fullback. If City continues to play in a 3-5-2, Sane might find himself on the bench because both Benjamin Mendy and Danilo are more capable left wing backs than the German. If he wants to get in the side when Pep decides to play in that shape, Sane would most likely have to be one of the two strikers up top. Luckily for Sane, Guardiola always rotates his team and limits himself to one formation.
I fully expect an inSane season from the wild-haired winger, especially considering that he’s fighting for his place in the German national team for next year’s world cup.