After Sadio Mane failed to score in Saturday’s 1-0 Bundesliga loss to Augsburg, Bayern Munich received harsh criticism from a variety of fans.
The 30-year-old Senegal international started the game at Augsburg Arena, but he was powerless to stop Mergim Berisha’s well-placed goal in the 59th minute, which handed the Bavarians their first loss of the season.
Mane, who transferred from Liverpool to Bayern, cut a dissatisfied figure throughout the game. He was cautioned for tripping in the 39th minute and replaced by Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting of Cameroon in the 78th.
The Lion of Teranga has already played seven games across all competitions without scoring. His most recent double came in a 7-0 victory over Bochum on August 21; his first of the season came in a 6-1 triumph over Eintracht Frankfurt.
Mane’s “dry spell” has prompted fans to take to social media to criticize manager Julian Nagelsmann, claiming the attacker is being played out of position. One supporter specifically questioned why they could not buy Erling Haaland if their goal was to bring in a number nine.
“Sadio Mane isn’t a striker. Bayern is pretending he is one. Why didn’t they sign Haaland?,” Kwabena opened the debate on Twitter while Swot posed a question: “Who plays Sadio Mane as a lone striker? Who on earth makes such a blunder?”
Benhito Bankz wrote: “Sadio Mane is not a striker so, Bayern stop playing him as false number nine,” he said, adding: “If you need a proper goal scorer go for Cristiano Ronaldo.”
Vincent Brian stressed the point home: “Sadio Mane is never a striker, allow Thomas Muller to do the job and let Mane be a free man from the wings.”
The Trivela Effect defended Mane, insisting he will turn things around soon. “It makes me sad how quickly people have turned on Sadio Mane,” he said, adding: “I believe he, Nagelsmann, and Bayern as a whole will figure things out. Let’s give it time.”
His sentiments were echoed by Tunde Westside, who said: “I don’t know why people are acting surprise about Sadio Mane form, we Liverpool are already used to it.”
Westside added: “He normally plays rubbish at the start of the season then pick his form towards the end of the season.”
Mane participated in 34 Premier League games for Liverpool last year, when he scored 16 goals and assisted on two more.
He played for the Reds in 196 league games overall, scoring 90 goals and dishing out 29 assists.
