Former Liverpool star Sadio Mane issued a perfect response to talk over his inconsistent Bayern Munich form by ending his lean spell in front of goal.
The Senegalese forward found himself under pressure over recent weeks having failed to score in any of his last six appearances for the German giants. That led to Bayern icon Phillip Lahm doubting his suitability for the reigning Bundesliga champions, whilst the club’s sporting director, Hasan Salihamidzic, had admitted to holding talks with Mane in an effort to find a solution to his stuttering form.
Speaking with German outlet Bild, he said: "Sadio still needs a little time, he has to get used to the Bundesliga too, but he will. I speak regularly with him.
"I know what it's like to arrive as a newcomer to a team, in a different country, in a different city, in a slightly different football culture. Sadio is in this process, everything will soon be more familiar to him and we will soon see that on the pitch too. He is one of the best players in the world, we will still have a lot of joy with him."
Meanwhile, Anfield hero Dietmar Hamann claimed Mane "doesn't look happy" following his £35million switch from the Reds to the Bavarian club. However, the 30-year-old responded perfectly as Bayern returned to action on Friday evening following the international break against Bayer Leverkusen.
After former Manchester City winger Leroy Sane gave the hosts the lead at the Allianz Arena, with Jamal Musiala scoring the second goal, Mane then got in on the action before the break.
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The ball found its way to the Senegalese forward on the edge of the penalty area and he then scored with a low, left-footed effort to take his season total to six goals in 12 appearances.
Mane could have doubled his evening’s work in the second-half as he fired home following an excellent bit of skill from Musiala but VAR intervened - the goal eventually being chalked off.
Whilst Mane was in sensational form for Bayern, his display was slightly overshadowed by that of the aforementioned Musiala. The young German international sparkled throughout the game and assisted Mane and Sane’s goals, whilst he also found himself on the scoresheet.
That has taken the 19-year-old’s season record to an astounding seven goals and five assists in just 11 games in all competitions this season. There was just also enough time left for Bayern icon Thomas Muller to get in on the act too, as he profited from a goalkeeping howler to make it 4-0.
Mane and the rest of his Bayern Munich teammates move up to second in the Bundesliga table after thumping Leverkusen and will be hoping to extend their 100 per cent record in the Champions League on Tuesday as they take on Viktoria Plzen.
