BERLIN: Kingsley Coman is expected to return from injury for Bayern Munich this weekend, while head coach Julian Nagelsmann is backing Leroy Sane to rediscover his best form on the left wing for the Bundesliga giants.
Coman sat out last Sunday’s 3-2 win over Cologne with a knock, but should return for Saturday’s home league fixture against Hertha Berlin, who are bottom of the table after losing both of their opening games.
“He (Coman) is fit again, he has no more problems,” Nagelsmann said Friday.
The Bayern boss also revealed that Lucas Hernandez has been able to train for the first time after an operation on his left knee, “which made me very happy.”
However, Nagelsmann says the France defender is “not yet an option” for Saturday.
The head coach gave nothing away when asked about rumors that Bayern are trying to sign defender Matthias Ginter and midfielder Jonas Hoffmann from rivals Moenchengladbach before the transfer window closes Tuesday.
However, Nagelsmann, 34, has given his backing to Sane and demanded Bayern fans stop aiming whistles of discontent at the winger, whose form can be erratic.
“We just have to leave him alone for a bit now, then you will see that he will go through the roof soon enough,” said Nagelsmann.
Sane was named in the Germany squad on Friday for next week’s World Cup qualifiers.
In Coman’s absence, Sane scored a goal and set up two more from the left wing in Bayern’s 12-0 thumping of fifth-tier minnows Bremer in the German Cup.
Nagelsmann says Sane is better off playing on the left, having often been used on the right last season to accommodate Coman.
“On the right, Leroy often wants the ball at his feet, but then has to play with his back to goal — which doesn’t play to his best qualities,” explained Nagelsmann.
“When he plays on the left, he has a bit more depth and the game often opens up in front of him.”
The stats back up Nagelsmann.
During spells at Schalke, Manchester City and Bayern, Sane has scored 51 goals and created 60 more in 160 games from the left wing.
In contrast, he has managed 17 goals and 14 assists in 81 games on the right.
Coman to return for Bayern, Nagelsmann backs Sane to regain form
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Coman to return for Bayern, Nagelsmann backs Sane to regain form
- Kingsley Coman sat out last Sunday's 3-2 win over Cologne with a knock
- "He (Coman) is fit again, he has no more problems," Bayern Munich’s coach Julian Nagelsmann
Jones leads after blemish-free 65 at Address Marassi
- Englishman holds 1-shot advantage as 3 players share second at Egypt Golf Series
AL-ALAMEIN, Egypt: England’s Ben Jones carded a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 to take the first-round lead at the Egypt Golf Series Address Marassi Golf Resort 2, the third event of the MENA Golf Tour’s four-tournament Egypt swing.
Jones holds a one-shot advantage over three players at six under — Italy’s Giovanni Manzoni, Scotland’s Michael Stewart and Spain’s Juan Salama — as players returned to the resort course for the second consecutive week.
Jones said: “It was a bit fortunate the first day by getting the right side of the wind and that’s when you have to take advantage of the course.”
“I hit it really solid all day, stayed out of trouble and had no dropped shots, so I’m really happy with that. It’s probably my best round of the year so far and hopefully I can keep that going.
“I nearly holed one on eight and for a second I thought it was in, and then on the final putt of the day I nearly grabbed another birdie. It hit the back of the hole but just didn’t drop. I maybe hit it a little firm because I misjudged the wind down there.”
Scotland’s Stewart said: “I played really nicely today. I felt like I had good control of my ball in the wind, which was really important out there. The preparation over the last few days definitely helped, and last week’s final round was very breezy as well, so that experience carried over.
“I would not say it is getting easier, because it is not, but you do start putting yourself in better positions because you understand the course and the misses a bit more.
“Overall, it just felt like one of those days where I played really solid golf, gave myself plenty of chances, and managed to take a few of them.”
Salama enjoyed a tale of two halves having teed off on the 10th, with six birdies on his back nine, the course’s front nine, transforming his round.
“Six under is obviously very pleasing, but it really felt like two completely different nines out there,” said the Spaniard.
“The front nine was quite tough and I started a little cold with the putter. On the back nine everything clicked, the putter got hot and I was able to make six birdies, which made a huge difference.
“Finishing the round by holing that putt on my final hole was a great feeling and gives me a lot of confidence going into tomorrow.”
Italy’s Ludovico Addabbo, second in the MENA Golf Tour Rankings and alone in fifth at five under, went blemish-free on the card, which included an eagle on the fourth hole and three birdies on the back nine.
Rankings leader Chris Wood, who won last week’s Marassi 1 event in a dramatic playoff, is among a large group at one-over par following an opening 73 as he looks for a repeat win at the venue.
The Egypt Golf Series has $100,000 in prize money and Official World Golf Ranking points on offer. Following this week’s event, the Tour concludes its Egypt Swing at Madinaty Golf Club in Cairo from Feb. 3 to 5.
