Leroy Sané experienced something in Mainz on Saturday that he had rarely gone through this way this season: an early closing time. Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel revealed his thoughts on the substitution after the game.
Leroy Sané is playing a fabulous season so far, is clearly one of the best Munich players and has played a major role in Bayern still being unbeaten in the league with six wins and two draws. The quick-as-an-arrow winger has contributed six goals and two assists so far – his kicker grade average is 1.86 after the first seven matchdays.
The international, who recorded one assist, was also in the starting eleven in the 3:1 win in Mainz in round eight. However, he did not see the final whistle on the pitch this time. The last five Bundesliga games he made over 90 minutes, only in the 3:1 against Augsburg he had to go down earlier this season. In Mainz, Sané was then sent off after 77 minutes, with Mathys Tel coming on for him – as did Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who replaced Jamal Musiala.
“He’s never happy with being taken out. But he’s not angry, he just always wants to play through,” Thomas Tuchel explained on the ZDF microphone after the game. “He always wants to do his goal and his goal preparation. And I’m also insanely reluctant to take him out. “
Tuchel wanted more size and physicality
The soccer coach then explained why he did it anyway. According to the report, he wanted to give his team a bit of a makeover for the final phase and bring an extra component to the pitch. “We opted for Mathys Tel and Choupo and also wanted size and physicality again in standard situations. Because we knew that Mainz are dangerous there.”
After the game and the successful Saturday evening, Tuchel then high-fived all his players, Sané got a small, affectionate “Watschn” and was then lightly shaken by the coach in jest. “That was an affectionate pat, well meant, he does not take it against me,” said Tuchel with a grin.
