Leroy Sané is going into the EURO year 2024 with extra motivation, says the Germany international. In this in-depth interview, he reveals what Thomas Tuchel and Pep Guardiola have to do with that and why you never stop learning.
Interview with Leroy Sané
Leroy, sporting director Christoph Freund says we're witnessing the best Sané ever right now – is he right?
"I've been pleased with my own performances recently, but I don't like to give myself such superlatives (grins). In any case I'll do my best to make sure it continues this way until the end of the season."
You can never rest at FC Bayern – does praise also mean: Hey, don't ease off?
"The pressure at a club like FC Bayern is much too high to be able to rest on your own performances. On top of that, there's still a long way to go this season. Up to now it's gone quite well, but I also want to be on it when we head into the crucial period in the Champions League and the league in the spring."
You have been judged by the highest expectations and standards throughout your life – how do you handle that?
"You have to block it out. I always have my own standards anyway. Sometimes I score a goal and get an assist but I might still be unsatisfied with myself. I have very high demands of myself there, which I always want to meet, just like the demands of my coach."
Criticism is part of the game – some get hindered by it, others motivated by it. Particularly at FC Bayern, do you always have to take criticism as an incentive?
"In periods when you're under criticism, you always want to do well and win even more. It's important not to get tensed up by it. Instead, you should show the opposite reaction: if you put yourself under too much pressure then very little comes off. That's then sometimes misinterpreted by the public – suddenly they say the boys aren't giving their all, they're not focused and what have you. The bad pass tends to happen when you're too tense, too eager to get it right. But for me, criticism is first and foremost a motivation."
There are photos of you from this season where you appear to be floating across the turf. Do they clearly show how you have been feeling for months? Where does that come from?
"I had a very good preseason under Thomas Tuchel. Everything felt very good, and then one thing led to another. My confidence got bigger and bigger, and then things just generally go better with that confidence. The disappointing 2022 World Cup and the exit in the Champions League quarter-finals gave me extra motivation to make this season more successful, since 2022/23 wasn't very satisfactory on the whole."
For years you've had an image as someone who takes things easy – but is that actually true? A fair-weather footballer, luxury player... Are these labels you no longer fit into, or in fact never did?
"In hindsight, I admit myself that I sometimes used to offer too many easy targets, into which dozens of things were then interpreted. You learn from that, though. You become more mature and develop a better sense for what's going to go come from outside."
How is the Leroy who arrived from Manchester nearly four years ago different to the one we see on the pitch today?
"He's matured in every area. Back then I was 24, in January I'll be 28. I think every person goes through a certain development in the maturing process at that age. I've had ups and downs in my career but I've been able to learn a lot from the downs. On top of that, I've become a father of two in that time, which also makes you grow up."
You experienced formative years with Pep Guardiola in Manchester. Where does Thomas Tuchel rank for you? The pair once moved salt shakers together...
"Thomas Tuchel is definitely among the best coaches in the world – just as Pep Guardiola is. Both coaches' successes speak for themselves. I'm still grateful to Pep for everything and I'm happy to be working with another equally passionate, top coach in Thomas Tuchel at the moment."
Pep Guardiola reprogrammed you, you once said – which buttons is Tuchel pressing? And is there still storage space?
"There's still storage space (laughs). You can take a lot from every coach. I also learned a lot from Hansi Flick and Julian Nagelsmann."
Coming up next year is the European Championship at home. How are you feeling ahead of the tournament? Why should fans look forward to the tournament and the German team?
"We obviously all sense that the euphoria isn't really there yet among our fans – for understandable reasons. We all want to do everything to make the tournament a similar success to the home World Cup in 2006, when the sporting situation also wasn't the best in the run-up. I'm sure the euphoria will arrive for the first game. It's our task as a team to start the tournament well so that the fans can then carry us through the matches. Firstly it's just about getting off to a positive start in the group stage and not thinking ahead about the semi-final or final. Taking it one game at a time and developing an energy – that's the way to do it."
On the pitch you seem to have found a perfect partner in Harry Kane. Was there one moment when you realised that you understand each other instinctively?
"I realised very quickly with Harry that it could be a really good fit. I even had that feeling before our first game together. I followed his career closely in the previous years and also played against him in the Premier League. He's been one of the best number 9s in the world for many years, with an incredible understanding of the game. He knows exactly what makes me tick - and vice versa. I also really like him as a person off the pitch."
What are your goals for 2024?
"To win as many trophies as possible and also play a part in that. Then there's another big highlight in the summer with the home EURO, which I'm already looking forward to a lot."
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