Leroy Sane's struggle puts Bayern Munich on edge for Freiburg clash
Leroy Sane of Bayern Munich 20 May 2023
In a Bundesliga showdown against Freiburg on Friday night, Bayern Munich face a looming challenge as Leroy Sane remains uncertain due to persistent patellar tendon problems.
Coach Thomas Tuchel, addressing concerns at the pre-match press conference, disclosed Sane's ongoing battle with discomfort.
"Leroy always wants to play. He's someone who can tolerate pain extremely well. He's felt something in the last few weeks. Maybe he's been grinning and bearing it a bit too much. I get the impression he's not completely free. He has a lot of aches and pains and is paying a bit of a price for the overload," expressed Tuchel.
The coach emphasized the need to carefully assess Sane's condition, stating, "We need to find the best solution for tomorrow. He's doing an individual test now. If he can, we'll take him into the final training session. We'll see if he can make the squad tomorrow and perhaps help us from the bench. We have to look from day to day."
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Sane, there is a silver lining for Bayern with the anticipated return of Alphonso Davies, who is set to rejoin the squad after a brief spell on the sidelines. Additionally, Dayot Upamecano is back from suspension, although Tuchel hinted at Eric Dier and Min-jae Kim forming the defensive duo against Freiburg, saving Upamecano for the crucial Champions League return leg at Lazio on 5 March.
When questioned about de Ligt's absence, Tuchel clarified, "Min-jae Kim will play if nothing changes. Dayot Upamecano is fit but he's suspended for Tuesday, so it doesn't make sense." The coach also confirmed Joshua Kimmich's role at right-back, solidifying the central midfield pairing of Aleksandar Pavlovic and Leon Goretzka.
Bayern Munich brace for a challenging clash, navigating the delicate balance between Sane's fitness concerns and strategic squad adjustments.
