Leroy Sane has an unfair advantage over the rest of the Premier League – and should be made to play in a weighted shirt!
And that suggestion did not come from someone in the Manchester United camp ahead of the derby – but from former Manchester City favourite Trevor Sinclair.
The former England star had his tongue firmly in cheek, but he made it clear that he thinks 21-year-old Sane is heading for the very top, along with his close pal and opposite winger Raheem Sterling.
And Sinclair reckons that his genetic heritage is a large part of what Sane is about – his dad is a former professional footballer but his mum is an Olympic bronze medal-winning gymnast.
“When you come to raw fundamentals he is a thoroughbred,” said Sinclair, himself a pacy, talented winger in his day.
“He is from sporting parents, which is an unfair advantage in my opinion – they should make him play with a weighted shirt or something!
“He is your worst nightmare as a defender, the last thing you want to do is turn and run towards your own goal, knowing someone is going past you on the outside.
“You can't coach it and it is a brilliant thing to have – I had it in the early part of my career, and didn't have it in the latter part.
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“I know which I enjoyed the most, because pace gets you out of so many situations.
“And he loves playing for Pep, because it's not all about winning.”
Sinclair feels that the width that City have through Sane and Sterling could be the decisive factor in the derby, although Sterling has clearly been out of favour with the manager in recent weeks.
“Both of them have been key for City all season,” said Sinclair. “I thought the wide man was starting to become obsolete in the game a couple of years ago, but football is about cycles.
“It's about the way Raheem has improved under Pep, and then Sane came in and while he was a slow-burner at first, he is now right in the groove.
“They work hard for the team defensively, but as soon as there is a transition, and they win the ball back, those two show immediacy to get forward.
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“Both are blessed with an incredible turn of pace and the end product is improving all the time. I can see them both being at City for years – they suit Pep's philosophy and have the right skill set for what he wants, as well as a good work ethic and mobility around the pitch.
“They also need the composure to put that final shot or cross in, and both are improving on that as well. I'm very excited by them and it will be a key area in the derby.”
- Trevor Sinclair starred in Betsafe's five-a-side derby clash between City and United legends. See it here