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Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann has asked the team’s fanbase to be more supportive as Leroy Sane was jeered by the home fans during the game versus Koln. The 24-year-old was subbed off after a tough first half which saw him register only two shots and a single successful dribble.
The coach’s comments were captured by Twitter account @iMiaSanMia, and you don’t need to read the replies to see that most Bayern fans online don’t condone that kind of behavior. Still, it’s something that happened, and it’s emblematic of the frustration fans feel toward Sane at this stage of his Bayern career.
Nagelsmann on Sané: "We didn't play a good game in the first half as a whole team. I heard the whistles (by the fans against Sané). The fans should support their own players. Anything else does not help" pic.twitter.com/NQU3545ymg
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) August 22, 2021
This isn’t the first time a winger wearing the iconic #10 shirt has been booed by the Allianz Arena faithful. Arjen Robben once got an earful back in 2012, when he was still blamed for the club’s loss in the UCL final that year. The Dutchman eventually made a comeback, scoring the winning goal in the 2013 final versus Borussia Dortmund and forever cementing his legacy as Bayern’s “Mr. Wembley.”
Sane is in a similar downturn in his career, and he needs improve. But things won’t get better without support. Hopefully, Nagelsmann’s words resonate with the fanbase, and the next home games are played in a more cheerful atmosphere. The performances haven’t been up to snuff so far this season, but a loud home crowd could help change that.