Bayern Munich excluded Sadio Mane from their squad for Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Hoffenheim.
Pep Guardiola has spoken out on the incident that saw Sadio Mane punch Leroy Sane
Pep Guardiola believes the fighting spirit within Bayern Munich’s squad serves as a warning for his Manchester City players ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg in Germany. The Premier League champions boast a 3-0 advantage heading into the contest but as far as Guardiola is concerned, the tie is far from over.
That’s because he believes Bayern are a wounded animal – not least after Sadio Mane was involved in a dressing room spat with former City winger Leroy Sane after last week’s defeat at the Etihad Stadium.
It’s alleged that Mane punched Sane in the face following a heated verbal exchange which resulted in Bayern suspending their summer signing from Liverpool.
Guardiola is not reading into the incident as he believes it will contribute to a strong competitive spirit within Bayern’s dressing room.
“Absolutely, sometimes you need conflict to make the team more together, I am pretty sure of that,” he said of Mane punching Sane.
Sadio Mane is alleged to have punched Leroy Sane after Bayern’s 3-0 defeat at Man City (Image: Getty)
“It’s not a weak point, it will be a strong point against us,” Guardiola said after City beat Leicester 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
“I know this club perfectly, I can imagine the situation against City, we play there, the players will do their best. Bayern will do their best on Wednesday but I am pretty sure what happened here.
“If it was the opposite and we had lost 3-0 and didn’t win today and there was some conflict, the team would say it is a final for us and we know exactly what we have to do and we will do it.”
Bayern excluded Mane from the match day squad for Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Hoffenheim but he could be back in contention for the second leg clash with City.
There have been rumblings that Bayern are far from pleased with Mane’s contribution since arriving at the club and there has even been speculation suggesting he could be pushed towards the exit door at the end of the season.
He has mustered six Bundesliga goals in 20 outings to date and missed the World Cup with a leg injury sustained just before the tournament.
But still, he is yet to replicate the form he displayed at Anfield when he was widely considered as one of the best attackers in world football.
Mane is understood to have apologised to the Bayern squad for his fiery exchange with Sane and he should now be reintegrated back into the team.
City head into the meeting in fine form having won their last 10 matches in all competitions.
Guardiola’s men are now hunting three trophies between now and the end of the season after Arsenal handed them an opening in the Premier League title race.
The Gunners have now dropped four points in their past two matches as City continue to eat up the ground on Mikel Arteta’s side.
Yet the Champions League remains the one trophy that continues to elude them and the competition will remain the priority as well enter the run in.
That’s why Guardiola is unlikely to field a heavily-rotated side despite the scoreline when he returns to the Allianz Arena in midweek.
