Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
CAST-OFF TO BLAST-OFF
Sane will use his World Cup snub as motivation for another stunning season with City
LEROY SANE is ready to take out his World Cup hurt on the Premier League’s defences.
Sane was gutted to be snubbed by Germany coach Joachim Loew for the finals in Russia after his dazzling campaign for Manchester City.
The PFA Young Player of the Year says he is still getting over the pain of missing out and claims he will use it as motivation for the new campaign.
Sane is one of the few big names on City’s US tour and they are profiting from his World Cup axe because boss Pep Guardiola can unleash him for the start of their title defence.
He looked sharp as he trained with his team-mates in the rain at an open session for the media and selected fans at the Etihad
City Football Academy in upstate New York.
Sane has braided his hair to add to the feeling of a fresh start and he wiped the rain from his face as he said: “Yes, of course it gives you motivation.
“It was a shock when I was told, of course it was. I was disappointed at the time and it was really hard for the first week. But now it’s just made me want to come back really strong. It was a surprise because I thought I’d played quite a good season.
“Like I said, I was disappointed and I’m still feeling it a bit, but it’s another season for me and I’m looking forward to it.”
Guardiola spoke to Sane after his snub to try to lift him and the former Schalke star knows that at 22 he will potentially have at least two more opportunities to play at a World Cup.
The winger’s first goal is to win back his place for Germany’s qualification campaign for Euro 2020. Lesser men would have taken a secret pleasure from seeing Germany flop without him, but he was as upset as any fan at their shock group-stage exit.
“The manager had a chat with me after it happened,” added Sane.
“We talked about everything and how my mind was and now we’re just looking forward.
“Yes, I watched it – it’s the World Cup! When I watched it I had the feeling that I wanted to be there. But I’m 22 and I still have a lot of years
It was a shock when I was told, of course it was. I was disappointed at the time but now it has made me just want to come back stronger
to prepare. I was disappointed for the guys because some of them are my friends and
I’ve played with them before. “They are all good guys and that’s why I was disappointed for them.
“The World Cup games are special and losing them hurts more than other ones.” Sane was pleased so many of his team-mates had successful World Cups, even if livewire defender Benjamin Mendy will be even louder because of France’s triumph.
“A lot of our players went really far in the World Cup,” he said. “I was really happy for them, especially Ben because he won it.
“Of course they now need a break to recover and be fresh for the new season.”
Their absence from preseason gives Sane an even greater role for City next month.
He is ready to take on this extra responsibility and claims he still has plenty of room left for improvement.
“Yes, I still make so many mistakes so of course I can get better,” he said.
“I’m really happy knowing that I can get better. I’m ready to do it.”