FC Bayern Munich
Nagelsmann sees “remaining chance” with striker Mané
Bayern striker Sadio Mané is currently continuing his advanced training in Munich. photo
© Sven Hoppe/dpa
Before Bayern start the second half of the season, Julian Nagelsmann gives a positive update on the star striker Sadio Mané. And he pleads with another attacker for a new contract.
Julian Nagelsmann expects star striker Sadio Mané to make a possibly earlier comeback at FC Bayern Munich – ideally even in the first round of 16 in the Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain in mid-February.
Before today’s test match (6 p.m.) on the Bayern campus against Red Bull Salzburg, the coach of the Bundesliga leaders also voted for a contract extension with attacker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who was able to develop into a reliable goalscorer in the first half of the season and in the training camp built on his previous achievements.
Bayern striker with a strong goal quota
As a centre-forward, Choupo-Moting filled the gap left by Robert Lewandowski after joining FC Barcelona with 11 goals in 16 competitive games. During training in Qatar, the 33-year-old World Cup participant from Cameroon was able to maintain his status, as his trainer said at the end of the winter camp: “He presented himself well. I told Choupo: If he keeps his diligence, it will continue be such that he can play a leading role.”
Nagelsmann attested to the good quality of the veteran, whose contract expires at the end of the season. And the coach said about the future of the soon to be 34-year-old: “Of course it’s good if you have talks with him and try to extend him. If you have a striker who scores as many goals as he did last then it makes sense to keep him at the club.”
Hope for Mané use
The 30-year-old Mané was not there in Qatar, but continued his advanced training in Munich. The new signing from Liverpool FC had missed the World Cup. He was injured just before the tournament and had to undergo an operation to reattach a tendon to his right fibula head.
“If everything goes great, great, it’s possible that he can play against Paris again,” said Nagelsmann, but immediately restricted: “But that should go very well and might also involve a small risk. He’s anyway a tad quicker than we expected.”
A realistic forecast with a view to the knockout games against Paris with world champion Lionel Messi can only be made if Mané is 100 percent on the pitch. “There’s a small remaining chance for the first leg in Paris. But in my head the plan is more that he won’t play there yet. But he’s on the right track.”