Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola sets Leroy Sane challenge after Bournemouth display

Guardiola hailed Sané's display, claiming whatever he ate for breakfast will be 'on the menu for the next few games'

Mark Critchley
Nothern Football Correspondent
Saturday 01 December 2018 19:35 GMT
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Leroy Sané was named man-of-the-match in Manchester City's win over Bournemouth
Leroy Sané was named man-of-the-match in Manchester City's win over Bournemouth (Getty)

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Pep Guardiola has challenged Leroy Sané to dominate games consistently after his star turn in Manchester City’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth on Saturday.

Sané was named man-of-the-match despite goals from Bernardo Silva, Raheem Sterling and Ilkay Gundogan giving City all three points.

City were pegged back by Callum Wilson’s equaliser on the cusp of half time but a second-half display inspired by Sterling and Sané secured victory.

Saturday was only Sané’s seventh start of the Premier League season so far, after a spell in and out of Guardiola’s side at the beginning of the campaign.

Benjamin Mendy’s knee injury has left City in need of greater width, however, and Guardiola challenged Sané to seize his opportunity to impress.

“I don’t know how he ate but maybe it will be on the menu for the next few games,” Guardiola said of Sané’s performance.

“When he is going to complain in the future why he doesn’t play, I will send the video of today because if he plays this way, he is going to play.

“We have to challenge with Riyad [Mahrez], with Raheem, with Kevin De Bruyne who is coming back, with everybody.

“I ask all of them the best of them. If you want to be competitive in all competitions, there is no other option.

“He was incredible, offensively, defensively. He created chances, positive in the mind, reactions good, but sometimes it’s not there.

“We never doubt about Leroy but he is young. We cannot forget he is 22-years-old, no more than that. Up and down, like this sometimes, that is all.

“Maybe in the future, he will be more consistent like Fernandinho, David [Silva], Bernando Silva, every game eight or nine [out of 10]. That is what I’m looking for from him.”

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