‘Outstanding’: Coach blown away by player he’s just signed from Liverpool

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Julian Nagelsmann was full of praise for the ‘outstanding’ Sadio Mane after the former Liverpool star marked his Bayern Munich debut with a goal in the German Super Cup victory over RB Leipzig, speaking to Sky. 

Robert who?

Life without Lewandowski began at Bayern on Saturday and, if their five-star performance is anything to go by, Mane, Jamal Musiala, Serge Gnabry and co are more than capable of stepping up in the absence of the seven-time Torjagerkanone. 

It took just 31 minutes for Mane to open his account as Nagelsmann’s star-studded side edged out Leipzig in an eight-goal thriller at the Red Bull Arena. An hour later, he was picking up his first piece of silverware in Bayern colours too. 

The first of many, one suspects.

‘Outstanding’ Sadio Mane shines on Bayern Munich debut

“(The Senegal international is) simply a humble, down-to-earth and outstanding player who defends very well, works hard and pushes the boys in the locker room,” Nagelsmann says of his new £35 million forward.

In fact, if Mane had been a little sharper in his movements, he could have celebrated his Bayern bow with a hat-trick. That, of course, will come with time.

“He’s extremely good for us. He scored two nice goals, which unfortunately were both offside,” the former Leipzig boss insists. “He has outstanding quality and is an outstanding guy. 

“(Mane) played very well. He is always ready to help the team, is down-to-earth and a very warm and humble person. You never feel like you are talking to a world star, but to a normal boy.” 

“Sadio Mane also proved his qualities against Leipzig,” adds Bayern legend Lothar Matthaus (Sky). “He’s fast, he’s tricky. He’s exactly the right player for the system without a real number nine that Bayern are now playing after Robert Lewandowski’s departure.

Liverpool, like Bayern, were taking to the field for the first time since losing a legendary forward this weekend. And Jurgen Klopp’s Merseyside giants certainly made light of life without Mane, an inspired Darwin Nunez cameo helping the Reds secure a 3-1 victory over Manchester City in the Community Shield curtain-raiser. 

The goal was obviously the icing on the cake,” Klopp beamed at full-time. “So really pleased for him (Nunez). 

“You could see in his face, you could see in the face of all his team-mates how happy the boys are for him. And that’s a really good sign after that short period of time that he is with us.”