Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel heaps praise on “sensitive and exceptional” Leroy Sané ahead of Real Madrid showdown

“Look, Leroy, you have to treat a car like you treat a star player.” …Tell me someone got that reference.

From day one, Leroy Sané has been one of Thomas Tuchel’s key men at Bayern Munich. Starting with that iconic kick to the backside, their relationship has grown and changed throughout the season. But what exactly does that relationship look like?

When asked this, as captured by @iMiaSanMia, Tuchel had this to say: “You always try to have a bond with the sensitive and exceptional players. We want Leroy to be a team player.”

Having said this, Tuchel immediately pivoted to avoiding the question, instead taking the time to praise Leroy Sané for the selfless commitment he has displayed over the past couple of months. “I know that he has been training with pain for seven or eight weeks – and yet he still makes himself available for the team. He’s played with pain that was almost unbearable. He deserves the highest praise for that.”

But his commitment is not the only quality the former Schalke player possesses, as he so aptly demonstrated Champions League first leg against Real Madrid. “[Leroy Sané] is someone who can dominate the opposition, not just with talent but also his physical nature. He’s a bit short at the moment because he can’t train properly. We’ll continue to support and push him.”

Having been rather criticized for failing to live up to the standards he set in the first half of the season and with his contract up at the end of the season, the stage is set for Leroy Sané to take his fate into his hands and demonstrate the full extent of his extraordinary capabilities. All Bayern fans will hope he takes it.