Sane ready to show Germany what they missed
City travel to Hoffenhein with midfielder motivated to shine
Sane’s award-winning performance for City last year wasn't enough to earn him a place in Germany's World Cup squad as he was surprisingly cut from Joachim Loew's 23, which exited the tournament in first round. PHOTO: AFP
LONDON/ MADRID:
Manchester City travel to Hoffenheim on Tuesday desperately needing a win to kickstart a Champions League campaign that began with a shock 2-1 defeat to Lyon for the competition favourites.
There should therefore be no shortage of motivation for Pep Guardiola's men, but one member of the City squad will be especially keen to make a big impression back on German soil.
Leroy Sane was one of the stars of City's romp to a record 100 Premier League points and the League Cup last season. The 22-year-old was crowned Young Player of the Year in England thanks to a stellar return of 14 goals and 19 assists in all competitions.
However, that still wasn't enough to earn him a place in Germany's World Cup squad as Sane was surprisingly cut from Joachim Loew's 23.
Sane may have had the last laugh as the defending champions crashed out in the group stages — the first time in 80 years Germany had fallen at the first hurdle.
Sane snub show no player safe at City: Jesus
The pace, direct running and eye for a quick shot at goal possessed by the former Schalke winger were all traits missing from a laboured and predictable Germany in Russia.
Yet, there was no time for Sane to feel vindicated as on his return to club duty he was similarly shunned by Guardiola, sparking doubts over his attitude off the field.
"Sometimes you have the feeling with Leroy's body language that it is all the same whether we win or lose. He has to improve his body language," said Germany's vice-captain Toni Kroos even as Sane was recalled to Loew's squad for last month's Nations League opener against newly crowned world champions France. "He was fantastic for City last year but Pep has the same problem at the moment — he's trying to get the best out of him so he can perform better."
If Guardiola was looking for a reaction, he has got what he desired.
After being dropped for City's first four Premier League games of the season, Sane scored just two minutes into his return against Fulham and has created a goal in all three of his appearances since.
Madrid head to Moscow with fewer stars, bigger plans
Luka Modric returns to the Luzhniki Stadium on Tuesday, the scene of Croatia's World Cup final defeat to France, not only as FIFA's best men's player but the star of Real Madrid too.
For the first time in his six seasons at Madrid, Modric will line up for a Champions League tie without Cristiano Ronaldo, who was sold, or Gareth Bale, who is injured.
Guardiola warns squad of social media perils
There will be no Kaka, Angel di Maria or James Rodriguez either, all of whom Modric has rubbed shoulders with. At 33, he has outlasted them all.
Together, that quintet cost Madrid almost €400 million, and each considerably more than Modric, whose fee of around £30 million in 2012 would not even have got Richarlison out of Watford last summer.
But in this current squad, Modric stands out. In part, because of his brilliance, which has never been in doubt, but also because of Real Madrid too. The Galacticos are, just about, all gone.
Bale is the last, and he would have been playing against CSKA Moscow, had it not been for a thigh injury picked up on Saturday.
After him, Madrid's most expensive starters are likely to be Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos — both, like Modric, signed for around €30 million.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Europe, Barcelona will be fielding Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele against Tottenham. Manchester United will have Paul Pogba, and Paris Saint-Germain Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. All of them surpassed the €100-million mark.
Manchester City travel to Hoffenheim on Tuesday desperately needing a win to kickstart a Champions League campaign that began with a shock 2-1 defeat to Lyon for the competition favourites.
There should therefore be no shortage of motivation for Pep Guardiola's men, but one member of the City squad will be especially keen to make a big impression back on German soil.
Leroy Sane was one of the stars of City's romp to a record 100 Premier League points and the League Cup last season. The 22-year-old was crowned Young Player of the Year in England thanks to a stellar return of 14 goals and 19 assists in all competitions.
However, that still wasn't enough to earn him a place in Germany's World Cup squad as Sane was surprisingly cut from Joachim Loew's 23.
Sane may have had the last laugh as the defending champions crashed out in the group stages — the first time in 80 years Germany had fallen at the first hurdle.
Sane snub show no player safe at City: Jesus
The pace, direct running and eye for a quick shot at goal possessed by the former Schalke winger were all traits missing from a laboured and predictable Germany in Russia.
Yet, there was no time for Sane to feel vindicated as on his return to club duty he was similarly shunned by Guardiola, sparking doubts over his attitude off the field.
"Sometimes you have the feeling with Leroy's body language that it is all the same whether we win or lose. He has to improve his body language," said Germany's vice-captain Toni Kroos even as Sane was recalled to Loew's squad for last month's Nations League opener against newly crowned world champions France. "He was fantastic for City last year but Pep has the same problem at the moment — he's trying to get the best out of him so he can perform better."
If Guardiola was looking for a reaction, he has got what he desired.
After being dropped for City's first four Premier League games of the season, Sane scored just two minutes into his return against Fulham and has created a goal in all three of his appearances since.
Madrid head to Moscow with fewer stars, bigger plans
Luka Modric returns to the Luzhniki Stadium on Tuesday, the scene of Croatia's World Cup final defeat to France, not only as FIFA's best men's player but the star of Real Madrid too.
For the first time in his six seasons at Madrid, Modric will line up for a Champions League tie without Cristiano Ronaldo, who was sold, or Gareth Bale, who is injured.
Guardiola warns squad of social media perils
There will be no Kaka, Angel di Maria or James Rodriguez either, all of whom Modric has rubbed shoulders with. At 33, he has outlasted them all.
Together, that quintet cost Madrid almost €400 million, and each considerably more than Modric, whose fee of around £30 million in 2012 would not even have got Richarlison out of Watford last summer.
But in this current squad, Modric stands out. In part, because of his brilliance, which has never been in doubt, but also because of Real Madrid too. The Galacticos are, just about, all gone.
Bale is the last, and he would have been playing against CSKA Moscow, had it not been for a thigh injury picked up on Saturday.
After him, Madrid's most expensive starters are likely to be Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos — both, like Modric, signed for around €30 million.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Europe, Barcelona will be fielding Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele against Tottenham. Manchester United will have Paul Pogba, and Paris Saint-Germain Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. All of them surpassed the €100-million mark.