Bayern Munich head coach Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that Sadio Mane will be available for Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Manchester City.
The 31-year-old was suspended and fined by the German giants for allegedly punching teammate Leroy Sane in the dressing room after the 3-0 first-leg defeat at the Etihad Stadium last Tuesday.
Mane was left out of the squad that drew 1-1 with Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Saturday, while Sane was seen with a swollen lip as he played for an hour at the Allianz Arena.
A statement released last Thursday on the club's official website read: "Sadio Mane, 31, will not be included in the FC Bayern squad for this Saturday's home match against 1899 Hoffenheim.
"This is due to his misconduct after Bayern's Champions League match at Manchester City. Mane will also be given a fine."
© Reuters
Tuchel addressed Mane's punishment prior to Bayern's draw with Hoffenheim, confirming that the winger's situation has been "cleared" after he apologised for his actions.
"It was a heavy incident – it was very important that it was cleared before the next training session," Tuchel told reporters on Friday.
"I've known Sadio for many years – he is a top professional. He's never had a situation like that. He is focused on football, he has my full confidence. Everybody has the right to make a mistake.
"This was too much – he apologised and I believe him. It was important that he stays in training, but he is suspended and he will be fined. I don't know where the money will go, the club and the player will decide. It is not my highest priority.
"It would be nice if things that happened in the locker room stayed in there. We don't need situations like that to prove our squad is alive. We don't tolerate things like that."
Tuchel has since confirmed that the issue has been fully resolved and Mane will be in contention to play for Bayern against Man City on Wednesday.
© Reuters
"Sadio Mane will be in the squad on Wednesday," Tuchel told reporters as quoted by The Mail. "He has already shown his reaction. It's over, he's apologised.
"It's not an issue anymore. He trained with us in the week and he'll be in training on Sunday."
Mane, who joined Bayern from Liverpool last summer, began on the substitutes' bench for the first-leg clash at Man City before coming on for the final 20 minutes, in which he was seen arguing on the pitch with Sane prior to the dressing room bust-up.
The Senegal international may have to settle for a place on the bench once again on Wednesday having started only one of his last four appearances since Tuchel's appointment as head coach at the end of last month.
Bayern have a mountain to climb if they are to progress to the Champions League semi-finals after goals from Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Erling Braut Haaland helped the Citizens secured a commanding first-leg advantage.
The Bavarian giants have been boosted by the return of top scorer Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting who took part in training over the weekend after recovering from a knee problem.
Oliver Thomas
