Box-To-Box 8: Manchester City Thoughts from Napoli & West Brom
By Tim Crean
1. Sane is Sensational
Leroy Sane is a beast! He took the league by storm last year and became one of the most exciting young players in England if not all of Europe. This year it looked as though he was the odd man out in Pep Guardiola’s tactical shift to a 3-5-2.
In this two striker, wingback system there wasn’t as much need for wide attackers which is what Sane is best at. Sane was tried out at wingback and failed unquestionably.
His defense was not good, his offense suffered and he even had two throw-ins called back! Sparingly used in the first few games he scored 2 goals as a sub vs. Liverpool and add 3 more in his next two starts against West Brom and Crystal Palace. Since then he has been indispensable up front for City.
He currently sits at 8 goals in 17 appearances and had made it nearly impossible for Pep to take him off the pitch. His pace, size, skill and single-minded determination to attack is a rare combination and one that gives nightmares to opposing fullbacks. Playing his attacking role on the right side is a spot Pep thought he needed Alexis Sanchez to play. Sane has shown he can do the job, now the question is has he proven enough to Pep and Txiki Begiristain will be ok waiting for the summer for Sanchez?