FacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerPinterestEmail
MANCHESTER, England -- Leroy Sane marked a week to remember with a goal in Manchester City's 3-0 victory over Fulham, days after becoming a father for the first time.
Sane, 23, left the Germany camp for the birth of his daughter, Rio Stella, last week and on Saturday made his first Premier League start of the season, taking just 97 seconds to open the scoring.
"[It was] a fantastic week for me -- I became a daddy this week," Sane told Premier League TV. "It was also a good game today and we won, we played a good game.
"I'm relaxed at the moment, I train hard and when the manager gives me an opportunity, I show him what I can do. The next game on Wednesday is a really important game."
Fantasy Play ESPN Fantasy Soccer
Pick your eight-man team and compete in the Champions League, Premier League, La Liga or Liga MX, then go head-to-head in leagues against your friends or people around the world. Sign up for free!
How to play ESPN Fantasy Soccer
Your team will be made up of eight players, at four different positions: two forwards, three midfielders, two defenders, and a goalkeeper. Find out more here.
- Newcomers to pick and avoid - Champions League names to know - La Liga names to know - Breaking down ESPN's scoring system
The winger was left out of the squad for City's last game ahead of the international break against Newcastle United, but Pep Guardiola was delighted with his performance as City maintained the pressure on early leaders Chelsea and Liverpool.
"Even in this period when he didn't play, we never had doubts about Leroy's quality," the City boss told a news conference. "He showed us many times in the last years and today he played again so good.
"We cannot forget sometimes this kind of thing happens, he is [young] and sometimes you can be up and down at that age. He has to realise for himself like a professional he has to do. I'm delighted for his performance and [give him] a big compliment."
City's own setback was an ankle injury to Sergio Aguero, which saw him replaced in the second half, and Guardiola is unsure whether he will be fit for Wednesday's Champions League opener against French side Lyon.
Leroy Sane celebrates after scoring for Manchester City against Fulham. Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
"We had a problem with Sergio Aguero, he got injured in the first half and we didn't want to take a risk," he said.
"Something in the ankle, when he fell down, he felt something. He finished good the first half and the second half started a little bit uncomfortable. He could play but after 3-0, no risk. Tomorrow we will see how he wakes up [for Lyon]."
City missed a number of chances to win even more comfortably despite David Silva and Raheem Sterling adding to Sane's strike.
But Guardiola was happy with the win and predicts that the Cottagers will take points off City's title rivals.
"I give a lot of credit to Fulham, Fulham ask a lot from us, from them because they want to play," he said. "They will do a lot of surprises in the Premier League so that's why I give a lot of credit to what we have done."
Source: espn.co.uk