Leroy Sane: Manchester City winger must improve, says Germany's Toni Kroos
Last updated on .From the section Man City
Leroy Sane is not fulfilling his potential and must improve his attitude to do so, says the Manchester City winger's Germany team-mate Toni Kroos.
Sane, 22, was left out of Germany's World Cup squad, but has returned for Thursday's Uefa Nations League tie with France and a Sunday friendly with Peru.
But he is yet to start for City this season, and was dropped on Saturday.
"Sometimes you have the feeling with Leroy's body language that it's all the same if we win or lose," Kroos said.
"He's a player who has everything you need to be a world-class player but sometimes you have to tell him he has to perform better," the 28-year-old Real Madrid midfielder added.
Sane won the Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Year award for 2017-18 as he scored 10 goals and assisted 15 times in the Premier League last season.
But he has played just 30 minutes from the bench in City's new league campaign, and was left out of the squad altogether for Saturday's 2-1 home victory over Newcastle.
"What is crystal clear is his quality, his pace, his left foot. If he performs, he's a real weapon," Kroos added.
"He has the quality, especially for us, but maybe the head coach looked at his performances for the national team and wasn't happy.
"He was fantastic for City last year but Pep [Guardiola] has the same problem at the moment - he's trying to get the best out of him."
Analysis
German football expert Raphael Honigstein
It's fairly unusual for team-mates to get involved but I think this situation reflects a real concern inside the dressing room. It may also reflect a sense that keeping this in house and saying this to him behind closed doors has not had the desired effect yet.
I think there is a concern in the dressing room that he's not really behaving as professionally as his status - which is still quite low within the national set-up - would demand.
Sane was not picked for the World Cup and part of that decision was based on his attitude. Manager Joachim Low was concerned he might not be totally focused if he didn't start, and was not sure how conducive that would have been to good performances.
He's had a bad start to the season but the bigger issue is we've always seen young players coming off good seasons or from a position of strength domestically going into dressing rooms of national teams, where they don't have the same reputation.
They are not really expected to say big things or behave in a way that suggests entitlement. If they do that they get slapped down, first in private and then in public.
This is a warning for Sane and a shot across the bow - especially if it is Toni Kroos saying it.
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- says one of the central figures of Germany's abject failure at World Cup 2018.
Sane person s young and will improve naturally.
Yes, he could improve his attitude - but not sure if it's possible for him to improve on those stats of 10 goals and 15 assists, realistically?
The attitude has to be the reason Pep isn't starting him at the moment, as he's such a talented footballer.
This was probably the problem. He could not or would not adjust his style to suit the team. Time has shown that Lowe had his tactics and selections wrong this Summer. I am disappointed in Toni Kroos.
It’s also a bit confusing why he hasn’t been involved for City as much this season.
There’s probably some underlying problem that we don’t have the full story of, but it’s never been reflected in his on field performances.
FGS he's 22 and has had a mare in one game - I give up.
He came on for 10 minutes v H Town and forced an own goal with a great run. You missed that?
Lets start on Foden now - he's that bad he can't get in City's team and has been overlooked by Southgate - must have an attitude problem - better sell him in January
How would Kroos know about his attitude - hes never met him?
If they've never met, how did they play on the same pitch in friendlies against Spain and Brazil in March?
Plus this fantasy that Sane was the driving force last year is nonsense, the amount of times he wasted crosses or knocked the ball out is hilarious.
I believe this unwarranted hype has gotten to his head, and Pep is teaching him some humility.
He is clearly trying to deflect attention away from his own pitiable performance in the World Cup.
Ironically, Sane was the very player Germany needed!
However, if Germany's main man is saying this their must be some truth in it. Sane would do well to listen to him considering the hugely successful career he has had (1 WC, 4 UCL plus league titles as a first teamer)