Bayern Munich will get the best out of Leroy Sane even if they have to ‘kick his butt’, insists chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge… after winger was replaced as a SUBSTITUTE in victory against Bayer Leverkusen
- Leroy Sane was introduced in the first-half replacing the injured Kingsley Coman
- The ex-Manchester City winger featured for 36 minutes before being hooked
- Sane was visibly displeased yet boss Hansi Flick insisted he had ‘no other option’
- Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says Sane will eventually improve his level of play
Bayern Munich will ‘kick the butt’ of Leroy Sane to trigger improvement in his performance, says the club’s chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge after the winger was replaced following just 36 minutes of action on Saturday.
Sane was introduced in the 32nd minute for the injured Kingsley Coman against Bayer Leverkusen with the champions 1-0 down, but after struggling to make an impact the 24-year-old was replaced in the 68th minute for England Under-21 international Jamal Musiala.
Sane, who was signed for £45m in the summer from Manchester City, looked visibly unhappy to be hooked by boss Hansi Flick who insisted there ‘was no other option’ – and Rummenigge agreed that the Germany international was yet to hit the required performance level at the German champions.
After coming on as a substitute, Leroy Sane was replaced by Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick
The ex-Manchester City winger struggled against Bayer Leverkusen and played 36 minutes
‘Leroy was not happy [to be taken off], that’s clear and understandable. God gave him incredible talents. I only believe one thing: he has not yet reached this FC Bayern gene,’ Rummenigge told German station SPORT1.
‘Like Thomas Muller, he was my hero yesterday. He has marched up and down, but not as protected by talent as Leroy. He has to work on that, that is his job.
‘We have done everything we can to ensure that he comes to Bayern. We encourage every player, but we also challenge. He has to internalise that and the team supports him.’
Bayern, who were level at 1-1 when Sane was replaced, did nick all three points in second-half stoppage-time with star striker Robert Lewandowski netting his second of the game to clinch a last-gasp victory.
Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge insists Sane needs to improve his level of play
Flick insisted after the match he had ‘no other option’ but to substitute the 24-year-old winger
But Sane’s lack of involvement was the main talking point post-match and Rummenigge believes Sane has a lot to learn at Bayern, after a start which has included just three goals in 11 Bundesliga appearances.
‘He has to take the next step, Leroy has to adapt his character to FC Bayern,’ he added.
‘This character is: you forgive everything, but you have to give the impression that you are throwing everything into the balance in order to leave the field as the winner. He will have to learn that.
Sane (right) was visibly upset as being hauled off by Flick despite Bayern levelling the match
Bayern won the game late on due to Robert Lewandowski’s (right) deflected injury-time finish
‘I believe that he can have a big future at FC Bayern. We are ready to help him, to encourage him, but he also has to challenge himself in order to get to where he can be. We will, if necessary, kick his butt to get him there.’
Speaking after the match, which saw Bayern return to the top of the table, Flick said: ‘When we make substitutions, we have to do it sensibly.
‘If you see the second half, Thomas Muller is indispensable, Serge Gnabry improved in the second half, that’s why I substituted Leroy Sane. We had to react like that because there was no other option.’