JURGEN KLOPP CONSIDERS missing out on Sadio Mane during his time in charge of Borussia Dortmund to be “one of my biggest mistakes ever”, but the German has been able to right those wrongs at Liverpool.
Back in 2014, a Senegalese star was preparing to part company with Red Bull Salzburg. A switch to the Bundesliga was mooted, with Klopp having monitored a talented forward since seeing him catch the eye at the 2012 Olympics.
Talks were held, but Mane slipped the net and ended up joining Southampton in an £11.8 million deal.
“I have made a few mistakes in my life and one of my biggest mistakes ever was not taking Sadio when I was at Dortmund,” Klopp said of that failed transfer saga. “We were together in an office and I spoke to him.
“Afterwards I wasn’t sure but that was really my fault! He’s an outstanding boy and life gave me a second chance to work with him and hopefully we can both use it.”
Klopp returned for Mane during the first summer transfer window of his reign at Liverpool.
A £34 million agreement was reached with Southampton in 2016, with that deal making the 26-year-old the most expensive African player in history at the time.
A considerable show of faith from those at Anfield has been richly rewarded, with Mane having become a key figure for the Reds.
He netted 13 times in his debut campaign, before plundering 20 efforts last term as part of a fearsome attacking unit which sees him work in partnership with Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah.
“The time I have spent with Sadio Mane has been fantastic,” Klopp added. I love the boy — he’s an outstanding player.”
Mane has recorded another nine goals this season, with that contribution helping Liverpool to the top of the Premier League table and the last 16 of the Champions League.
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Fitzgerald’s kicking when he came on for Horwitz in his last game was top drawer. Interesting to see how he goes from the start in such a big game. A result for Connacht would be massive.
Was Blade released from the Irish squad, or did he just not return after last week? I thought he was in the extended squad announced on Tuesday?
@Darragh Murray: He was in the extended squad but got released.. so looks like Murray and Cooney for Italy game.. let’s home Cooney starts
@Tom Kenny: didn’t see that announced anywhere, thanks Tom!
Ok maybe I’m missing something here , but I don’t see a back up out half anywhere unless you count TOH or MH having to slot in !! Also where’s Horwitz and Copeland !!! Both seem to have gone MIA !!
@©️⚙️NNA©️HT6️⃣6️⃣: Godwin at centre is also a fly half at times.
Horwitz has been quite unimpressive at 10 this year.
@David Hickey: I think he’s been solid most of the time but he had an absolute mare in his last game. I wouldn’t write him off just yet, but I can see why he’s not in the team atm.
@ScewMadd: For me he has been a 6 out of 10 player. Unimpressive. By no means bad. (Although a fortnight ago was a travesty).
@©️⚙️NNA©️HT6️⃣6️⃣: Copeland has fairly significant hip surgery before Christmas!! Probably be another few weeks before we see him again!!
He hasn’t settled in I think , the weather is a big factor for a 10 and well Sportsground weather is a real Ripley’s believe it or not, time to give up on SH tens and get them from nearer home in future me thinks
@©️⚙️NNA©️HT6️⃣6️⃣: he was always an odd choice, in as much as he wasn’t an out and out 10, or at least he had filled in at twelve a good bit in his career, kind of the opposite of Godwin. He left Tahs to get game time at Rebels and then promptly couldn’t get in their match day squad – announcing half way into the season he was off to Connacht might not have helped. To be fair Western Force being disbanded meant there suddenly was a lot more availability and competition for slots in the remaining Aussie team’s squads. I thought it was strange the clamour on here that he would unseat Carty considering no one had seen him kick. As it turned out in a positive sense it hasn’t been so much a case of Horwitz failing as Carty succeeding. With Jack’s form we may need Horwitz next autumn anyway!
Ronaldson will be back in the picture another questionable 10, FITZGERALD looks the part,