Former Germany captain Ilkay Gündogan has publicly defended Leroy Sané against criticism following the national team’s World Cup opener, urging supporters to show patience with a player he describes as shy and sensitive to scrutiny.
Gündogan used his column in Der Spiegel to address the backlash against Sané’s display during the 7-1 victory over Curaçao. Despite the convincing scoreline, the winger faced heavy criticism for his individual performance.
Understanding Sané’s character
The 35-year-old midfielder argued that Sané requires “space to make mistakes” in order to flourish. Gündogan highlighted their unique bond, having spent four years together at Manchester City between 2016 and 2020 before reuniting at Galatasaray this season.
“So I can say that I really know him well,” Gündogan wrote. “And that’s why it affects me when I see how critically he is often viewed in Germany.”
According to Gündogan, Sané’s confidence suffers more than observers realise when subjected to public scrutiny. He suggested the 29-year-old often feels spectators are “just waiting for him to make a mistake,” which prevents the mental freedom required for his instinctive style.
“When he doesn’t know people well, he becomes very cautious,” Gündogan explained. He warned that constant fear of criticism hampers consistent performance, asking: “If he is constantly worried that the first mistake will immediately lead to criticism, how is Leroy supposed to perform consistently?”
Sané retains starting role
Despite the negative reaction to his showing against Curaçao, Sané has been kept in the starting lineup for Germany’s second World Cup group match against Ivory Coast on Saturday night.
Gündogan emphasised that the team must “do more to support him” as they aim to build tournament momentum. The midfielder noted that Sané’s unease with unfamiliar environments makes public support particularly vital during international duty.
The defence comes as Germany look to maintain their attacking rhythm following the dominant opening display, with Sané expected to play a key role against the African opposition.