+18 or +21, depending on state | Commercial Content | T&C's Apply | Play Responsibly | Publishing Principles
GFX Leroy Sane Michael BallackGetty/GOAL

Leroy Sane is 'missing something' to be considered one of the world's best players as Michael Ballack slams Bayern Munich star and questions Vincent Kompany over dismal Club World Cup showing

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

  • Ballack claims Sane is "missing something"
  • Criticises the winger's impact
  • Also laments Kompany's tactics
Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱
  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Bayern lost 1-0 against Benfica in the Club World Cup. It was a match in which Kompany made several changes to the starting XI, and Sane played the full 90 minutes. This irked Ballack, who was dissatisfied with Kompany's changes and Sane's inability to convert chances.

  • Advertisement
  • Leroy SaneGetty Images

    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    The German winger has played 222 games for the club, scoring 61 goals and providing 55 assists, but these stats don't provide the complete picture. In all these years at the German club, the winger has been good, but he was never tagged as one of the best. Ballack reflects on this, as he claims Sane has all the potential, but there is something missing that helps players convert the chances. The former Bayern player also criticises Kompany's tactics, as he believes the Belgian's tactics didn't work out against Benfica and Sane should have been substituted when he didn't have any impact on the game.

  • WHAT BALLACK SAID

    In a conversation with Sky Sport, Ballack said: "Ultimately, that's frustrating for the team. Something is missing to be among the absolute world's best: concentration, charisma, and the seriousness to handle opportunities responsibly. He's been used excellently time and again, but he doesn't score the goal to help his team."

    Criticising Kompany's tactics, the ex-Germany captain said: "You have to question why they let him play the whole way. He had little input. He has the ability and the timing, but he doesn't complete his moves. [Kompany's changes] didn't work. He certainly had something in mind, but perhaps there were one or two changes too many."

  • Vincent Kompanygetty

    WHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN?