Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann has expressed his concern regarding Sadio Mane 's sharpness after another underwhelming performance against Barcelona.
While goals from Lucas Hernandez and Leroy Sane helped the German giants to an empathic 2-0 victory in the Champions League on Tuesday, former Liverpool winger Mane struggled to get in the game and looked sluggish. Subbed off by Nagelsmann in the 70th minute, the Bayern boss was asked post-match about his £35million signing's situation after a bright start to life in Bavaria.
"He put in so much for Liverpool," Nagelsmann, whose club snapped up the 30-year-old in June, began. "He's a new signing. He just needs to adapt. He was trying. I'm certain he will succeed for us."
Mane didn't register a single shot against Barcelona, extending his goal drought to four games. Thankfully for the Senegalese, his teammates were able to produce. Bayern had been firmly under the cosh in the first half, but Nagelsmann's team talk before the second period must've rallied his side, who came out of the blocks firing.
Hernandez planted a header in the 50th minute to break the deadlock before Sane doubled the lead with an electric goal. The Bundesliga champions even thwarted their former star striker Robert Lewandowski much to the delight of Nagelsmann.
"In the first half, Barcelona had the better chances than us - our final ball wasn't quite there," the German tactician, still only the tender age of 35, admitted. "Things got much better in the second half, and our efficiency made the difference today."
Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez, on the other hand, wasn't pleased after full-time and believes that his team deserved to come away from Munich with all three points. "We were better than Bayern in many aspects. We have matched them in intensity, rhythm and physicality," Xavi claimed. "In the first half we were excellent with the ball, but I'm pissed off because today was a day to win here.
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"No way should our opponent be allowed to score from a failure of marking at a corner when we have the match under control. Or to score down the middle on a counter attack. We must learn from these mistakes."
Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer played a part in Xavi and co's frustration with a slew of crucial saves. Nevertheless, the legendary shot-stopper isn't carried away by the impressive result.
"We shouldn't exaggerate, we won our Champions League games," Neuer noted post-match. "We had space against Inter and Barcelona. However, we have to do better against teams that are compact at the back. Such an opponent is now waiting for us on the weekend in Augsburg."
