Leroy Sane, the former Manchester City winger, has revealed that he was in talks with Jurgen Klopp to join Liverpool before ultimately deciding to join Manchester City. The German international, who is now playing for Bayern Munich, credited Pep Guardiola with helping him settle at the Etihad Stadium and giving him freedom to play like Lionel Messi. Sane, speaking to The Guardian, stated that he needed time to adapt to the Premier League and find his confidence, but Guardiola’s words of wisdom helped him to feel more at ease.
The 28-year-old winger, who scored 39 goals and provided 43 assists in 135 appearances for Manchester City, praised Guardiola’s ability to understand his players and give them the space to express themselves on the pitch. Sane said that Guardiola told him to play with freedom, similar to how he instructed Messi at Barcelona, and encouraged him to have fun and take the initiative to shoot or make an assist.
Sane’s comments provide insight into what made Guardiola so successful at Manchester City, and how he was able to get the best out of his players. Guardiola’s ability to balance individual freedom with tactical discipline is a key part of his coaching philosophy, and Sane’s testimony suggests that he was able to thrive under the Spaniard’s guidance.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold has named Lionel Messi as the head of the table in his dream barbecue meet-up, alongside Zinedine Zidane and Usain Bolt. Alexander-Arnold, who is a huge fan of Messi, said that the Argentine superstar doesn’t speak a word of English, but he’s willing to take a back seat to have the opportunity to meet him.
The selection of Messi, Zidane, and Bolt is an interesting one, as it reflects Alexander-Arnold’s admiration for the three sporting legends. Messi and Zidane are widely regarded as two of the greatest players in history, while Bolt is considered one of the fastest athletes of all time.
Sane’s comments about Guardiola and his experiences at Manchester City offer valuable insights into the pressures and challenges of playing in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Alexander-Arnold’s dream barbecue guest list provides a fun and lighthearted look at the personalities and characters of the players. Both stories offer a Look into the inner workings of two of the biggest clubs in world football, Manchester City and Liverpool, and the personalities that make them tick.
