SM
Everton vs. Liverpool: 10 hrs 53 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
SL
Champions League | Final
Jun 1, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
LL

0-2

 
FT(HT: 0-1)
Salah (2' pen.), Origi (87')

Sadio Mane brushes off Real Madrid links

:Headline: Sadio Mane brushes off Real Madrid links: ID:360582: from db_amp
The Senegal international has been linked with Zinedine Zidane's rebuild at the Bernabeu.

Sadio Mane has shrugged off continuing links with Real Madrid by insisting he is happy playing for a Liverpool side who "beat big teams".

The Senegal international has been a reported target for Zinedine Zidane's rebuilding project at the Bernabeu for some time.

However, Mane – the Premier League's joint-top scorer this season with 22 goals – is focusing on Saturday's Champions League final against Tottenham in Madrid.

Mane scored in the Champions League final against Real Madrid in Kiev a year ago (Mike Egerton/PA)

"Always this is part of football, so we have to deal with it, but for me the most important thing is Liverpool and I'm happy here," he said of the speculation.

"It's always a pleasure that this kind of team wants (you) but don't forget Liverpool. They beat big teams.

"I'm preparing for one of the biggest games for the club and the fans and the players as well, so let's focus on this one first and win it."

After the disappointment of being beaten in last year's final by Real Madrid in the circumstances they did – losing Mohamed Salah to a shoulder injury and then conceding twice to two freakish goalkeeping errors – there is added motivation for Jurgen Klopp's players.

And when you factor in that they narrowly missed out on a first league title since 1990, there is even more incentive for them to end the season on a high and bring home a sixth European Cup.

“Don't forget Liverpool. They beat big teams.”
- Sadio Mane

"We know we have targets; we want to win the league and the Champions League. We didn't win the league but we still have one trophy to play for, so we are going to try to give everything to win it," Mane added.

"We would love to win it (the league) but we have to take it as a positive. It will give us more motivation and even the fans as well. So let's do it together and win this trophy.

"I think it's just incredible and I'm so positive. Of course it (last season's final) will help with this one because we wanted to win it and it was not the case. That's part of football.

"At the same time I think it's positive because many people, even you (the media), didn't expect us to play this final.

"We did it (and) I think we learned a lot from this and now we can use our experience this season to get what we want."

Mane was the main man when it came to providing the goals to sustain Liverpool's ultimately unsuccessful title challenge in the second half of the season.

The 27-year-old scored 17 goals in 22 matches from mid-January and is bidding to become only the second Liverpool player to score in two European Cup finals, after Phil Neal, and the first to achieve the feat for the Reds in successive appearances.

But even taking into account his prolific form he admitted he needed a break, and the week off followed by a training camp in Marbella has re-energised him for Madrid.

"It refreshed everyone," said Mane, who could also become just the eighth player to score in more than one final – the others being Gareth Bale, Samuel Eto'o, Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, Raul, Mario Mandzukic and Cristiano Ronaldo, who is the only player to find the net in three.

"We would have loved to have kept going straight but that is not the case and we understand how this goes in football with different competitions at the same time.

"But we know how to deal with this kind of situation now. We had a few weeks to prepare the game and we are fresh again and go there with fresh legs.

"We expect a very difficult game because Tottenham is a very good team, but we are also good, so that's an exciting game.

"We'll see what's going to happen, but I'm sure we will give everything to get what we want."

amp_article__360582 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-05-29 11:09:09:
html db last update - 2021-02-06 22:29:35 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Sadio Mane

Click here for more stories about Liverpool

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Liverpool33228375324374
3Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle321551269521750
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd32155124748-150
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves33127144653-743
12Fulham34126165054-442
13Bournemouth33119134860-1242
14Crystal Palace3399154256-1436
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton33108153448-1430
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3337233188-5716
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .