Bayern Munich sporting director Hasan Salihamidžić has defended summer arrival Sadio Mané from criticism.
Speaking to Sport Bild, Salihamidžić said: “Sadio still needs a little time, he has to get used to it, including the Bundesliga, but he will.”
The 30-year-old joined the Rekordmeister from Liverpool for €32m but has failed to score in his last four Bundesliga games for Bayern. Salihamidžić added that Mané knows “what it’s like to arrive as a newcomer to a team, in a different country, in a different city and in a slightly different football culture.”
Despite a slow start to his Bayern Munich career, Mané doesn’t get any added pressure from the club’s hierarchy.
“I speak to him regularly but I also give him space. He now has to organise himself in such a way that he feels at home in Munich,” added Salihamidžić. “Sadio is one of the best players in the world. He’ll bring very good performances. We’ll still have a lot of joy with him.”
Bayern Munich sit fifth and are five points behind leaders Union Berlin. On Friday night, they host Gerardo Seoane’s Bayer Leverkusen, who have won just one game this season.
GGFN | Daniel Pinder
