Leroy Sane might not be the most versatile player in the Manchester City squad but Pep Guardiola believes he is the best out-and-out winger in world football.
Sane came off the bench against his former club Schalke on Wednesday, firing home a sensational 30-yard free-kick to inspire a 3-2 comeback victory for 10-man City in the Champions League last-16 first leg.
The 23-year-old Germany international, who was a surprise omission from his country's ill-fated World Cup defence last year, was an unused substitute for City's recent Premier League victories over Arsenal and Chelsea and will hope for a return to the starting XI when Guardiola selects a side to face the latter in Sunday's EFL Cup final.
Kevin De Bruyne's return to fitness, Bernardo Silva's adeptness in operating off the right flank and Raheem Sterling's capabilities across the forward line have appeared to act against Sane of late.
Speaking at a pre-match news conference, Guardiola admitted as much but claimed Sane is without compare when it comes to orthodox wing play.
Leroy, still he is not ready. In the future, maybe, but he is not ready to play in the middle right now," he said.
"To play in the middle you have to be so good in controlling the spaces, what happens around you. Still he is not ready. Hopefully, we can help him. But Leroy, I think, is the best player in the world [playing] wide and making runs in behind and these kind of actions.
We prefer to use him where he is strong. His strength, I believe, is wider - one against one. There I think he is an incredible player."
