I'm still struggling to understand what has gone wrong. He was voted the best young player last season. There weren't any concerns over attitude. What has changed?
Sane was terrible in the Community Shield and got himself dropped on that performance.
He had fitness issues at the start of last season too, himself and Aguero if I'm not mistaken arrived back out of shape. Sergio made no such mistakes this term. I think the kids success might have gone to his head a little as well given whats come out of the Germany camp.. (he does have pretty much a full size tattoo of himself on his back).
Thirdly, the plan originally for last season was 3 at the back and the team wouldn't feature Sane or Sterling, similar to how we played vs Huddersfield. He's not up to task defensively when we play this way and well neither is Mendy but he's the preferred choice. Pep has said he needs Mendy in the team to play Jesus and Aguero together, if Mendy and Jesus are going to play a lot of games, Leroy could well miss a lot.
That said we have a big squad now and someone has to sit out. Gabriel Jesus came out and said he expects the same to happen to him this term.
So basically he's out of form, out of shape, tactically a bad fit for the current style and has a little bit of an ego whilst in a squad with 18 players of similar ability. I'm sure he'll get his run but he may have to wait awhile or for Mendy to have a shocker.
Its been a tough couple of months for him and I'm pretty sure he will turn it around.
