Manchester City have made a good start to their Premier League title defence, dropping only two points in four league games this season. The Citizens recently beat Newcastle United as Raheem Sterling and Kyle Walker made the difference in a hard-fought clash at the Etihad Stadium this past weekend. However, to the surprise of many supporters, Pep Guardiola excluded Leroy Sane from his match-day squad on Saturday, which threw the German playmaker’s future in doubt.
The Real Reason Behind Sane’s Exclusion
In a recent interview, the City boss disclosed that it makes him sad to leave players like Sane and Phil Foden out of his squad. But the Spaniard has no other option than to exclude some of his players, with as many as six striking options at his disposal. To summarise, Manchester City’s squad depth sees some of their first-teamers like Sane be a subject of limited game time for the senior side, as everyone in Guardiola’s starting XI are fit and firing on all cylinders.
What Does Sane Offer To This Man City Team?
The German playmaker boasts electrifying pace and is one of the best dribblers in the Premier League. He is adept at taking on defenders and getting to the byline to either take shots at goal or set up his teammates in space. The 22-year-old scored 14 goals while grabbing 19 assists in 49 appearances for the Citizens last season. However, it seems like Riyad Mahrez has taken his place in Guardiola’s first XI this term, which could be a big blow to Sane’s confidence.
Is Sane Good Enough To Start For City?
The 22-year-old is currently struggling with lack of confidence after being excluded from Germany’s 2018 FIFA World Cup squad in Russia earlier this summer. Even for the first few matches of this season, Sane found himself on the bench and failed to make an impact after coming on, before he was wholly excluded from the squad for the match against the Magpies last weekend.
It is clear from Guardiola’s actions that he still doesn’t think Sane is ready for regular first-team action and prefers a whole host of players ahead of him. Gabriel Jesus, for one, has not produced the goods in Guardiola’s senior team for a long time, yet he seems to be a more significant part of Guardiola’s plans, getting more game time than the German.
What’s Next For The German Youngster?
Sane needs to wait for his chance and grab it with both hands when the opportunity presents itself. Otherwise, he has to be patient until the transfer window reopens in January and seek for a way out of the Etihad Stadium in search of more first-team opportunities.
