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Sandro Wagner (re-)opened his scoring account for Bayern Munich in their 5-2 win over his former club, Hoffenheim. Wagner scored Bayern’s fifth goal in the 90th minute just five minutes after coming on for Joshua Kimmich. It was only his third appearance since joining Bayern in the winter transfer window.
Wagner instinctively knew exactly where to be at the right time, but let the details to chance: Rafinha’s cross seemed to take a slight deflection on its path in to Wagner, and the 30-year-old striker ultimately wound up using his midsection the redirect the ball into the net. Speaking after the match (Abendzeitung), Wagner comically suggested that it was a slightly more private area of his body responsible for the scoring effort:
Maybe my best part was also involved. I’m just not sure since it happened so fast. But it was very pleasant nonetheless.
You be the judge:
5-2! Sandro Wagner scores his 1st goal in his second spell at Bayern... against his old club, of course. #FCBTSG https://t.co/Ovl4ODbB4m
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) January 27, 2018
Wagner also revealed how much it meant to him to score his first goal for Bayern against Hoffenheim, the club he just left after a season and a half where his goal-scoring exploits really came to fruition. Wagner is not one for sentimentality:
I celebrate against every team. No matter if I was there for a year or if my mom or dad is the coach: I do not care . . . [It was special] because it was my first goal for Bayern. It was nice to score at home, with my club. That means a great deal to me; I used to stand in the Südkurve myself. It was a good day.
One of Germany’s best strikers, even as Bayern’s no. 2
Despite being behind Robert Lewandowski in the pecking order at Bayern, Wagner not only feels his being at Bayern will keep him in contention to make Joachim Löw’s squad for this summer’s World Cup, but he also believes he’s the best striker Germany has to offer (Bundesliga.com):
In my eyes I’m the best German striker. And without relying on statistics, as I couldn’t care less about those. To me, It’s just important that my performance is up to standard. I’m with the best team in Germany, scored a goal, and so I’m where I should be.
Even his cameo against Hoffenheim, he admits, was a step in the right direction in getting started on the right foot with Bayern:
Today was just a quick match [for me]. But I’m glad as I’ve scored my first goal for Bayern. I’ve had 30 minutes on the pitch and already scored a goal. It feels good.