Gedson Fernandes (Front) of Benfica vies with Arjen Robben of Bayern during the UEFA Champions League Group E match between between SL Benfica and FC Bayern Munchen at Luz Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sept. 19, 2018. Bayern won 2-0. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)
By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Renato Sanches is yet to reach the final destination on the long journey lying ahead of him. But the 21-year-old Portuguese made a big step by scoring the second goal in Bayern Munich's 2-0 away win against Benfica in the opening game of their Champions League campaign.
After a disappointing start in 2016, when Sanches joined the Bavarian side for 35 million Euros, he seemed to have lost the battle to establish himself as a regular. Though he arrived in Munich as a member of the Portuguese team that won Euro 2016 and had the reputation of being a quality young player, Sanches could never assert himself at the club.
The Portuguese, who had to leave behind his familiar environment at the age of just 18, seemed lost in the new and unknown world he had entered. "Just consider what he has been through. A new language and a new culture far away from what he was used to. We shouldn't just see him as a footballer obligated to work but as a human," Bayern coach Niko Kovac commented.
Initially, Sanches seemed unable to adapt to his new environment. Seen as a failure, he went out on loan to Swansea City in the Premier League but his time there was not a success. For the most part, his place was on the bench and as a substitute to fill the gaps.
Now Bayern's chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says Sanches is being given a second and final chance to make it in Munich. This season will decide his future at the Bundesliga champions and possibly his entire career in professional football.
Currently, it seems most likely the story will finish on a happy note.
Tears ran down Sanches' face when he left the pitch on Wednesday evening. 60,000 fans cheered him on for his best game so far in a Bayern shirt, with Benfica supporters also welcoming their lost son with warm applause.
"I love it when a stadium does that. Massive respect for the Benfica fans," wrote defender Mats Hummels on Twitter from the locker room. German international Joshua Kimmich admitted to having never experienced anything like it before.
Sanches raised his hands to applaud the crowd in his former club's stadium. The Benfica arena was once his true home for over eight years, after he tried to escape the poverty and deprivation of a poor Lisbon suburb.
In the 54th minute, Sanches proved his unique qualities by sprinting two-thirds of the pitch before scoring. "He is in great shape, which is the source for a good performance. You see opponents being pushed away when he passes them. He has made significant steps mentally since I took over," Kovac said.
It might have been a lucky coincidence that Sanches was picked by Kovac for the first team, with several Bayern stars having been sidelined due to injury. "He had to face enormous pressure in that game, but he managed to get along and deal with it," said the coach.
A few weeks ago, it was Bayern president Uli Hoeness who decided that Sanches should be given a second chance, not wanting to admit that Bayern had made the wrong choice in buying a player thought of as one of the biggest talents in Europe. Kovac developed a strategy to uncover Sanches' skills through intensive training and constant communication.
Step by step, Sanches has improved his performances and has lately been picked again for the Portuguese national team.
Sanches seems to have understood that he either takes this last chance, or remains in danger of wasting his talents. Still trying to hold back his tears after the game, Sanches admitted how happy he was. "I have amazing feelings tonight. I am thankful for the support of the Benfica fans and Bayern's too."
