Mane loyalty sends out big statement of intent: Klopp
JURGEN Klopp believes Sadio Mane’s decision to commit to Liverpool for the next five years is a sign that players now believe they can “take the next step” at Anfield.
The Senegalese winger has agreed a new contract which will keep him with the Reds until 2023, just as strike partners Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah have done before him.
Despite a storied history, Liverpool fans have been frustrated in recent years to see key players including Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho leaving to further their careers elsewhere.
It is something Klopp now believes can be put behind his club and is symbolic of the changes of the last few years.
He said: “I’m really pleased and happy he has signed this contract. It’s a big sign. If a player is in a very good moment in his career and you can extend his contract, it’s more than a signing. It’s a statement.
“It shows a bit of the change the club has made in the last few years. A few years ago, players in a very good moment constantly thought they had to leave the club to make the next step.
“Obviously now our boys think they can make the next step here.”
On a similar vein, Klopp dismissed suggestions from Egyptian coach Javier Aguirre that Salah should leave Anfield if the German’s team didn’t secure silverware this season.
“Obviously I don’t agree with it, but it’s a free world and he can say whatever he wants,” was Klopp’s diplomatic response.
The Liverpool manager branded media rumours that new Brazilian midfielder Fabinho could be allowed to leave Anfield after a relatively slow start to his Liverpool career as “completely crazy”.
“He has played in three of the last four games. He played, he did well. Now the most intense period of the year is coming up. He used the time to adjust to what we want, which was really good in the last games he played,” he said.
“Of course he will not leave. I don’t talk about transfers, but if anybody asks then nobody leaves here. That would be completely crazy.”
Another summer arrival, Naby Keita, is another midfielder who hasn’t delivered immediately, but Klopp is happy to play the long game with the Guinean.
“Naby has to and can improve, he has to learn the language, there are a lot of things he can do, but it’s a long-term project,” said Klopp.
“We have this wonderful player in our squad and we will use him — now, short-term, long-term, future. He is here in the right place and I understand that you have to ask about different players but it’s all good with the boys.
“You will see all of them in important games, important moments, and hopefully we
can make sure they are then in the best shape they can be and get the points for us. That’s the plan.”
Unbeaten Liverpool will travel to seventh-placed Watford today with Adam Lallana the only absentee due to a minor problem.
Javi Gracia’s men have certainly impressed Klopp, who believes the Hornets have assembled their finest team since he arrived in the Premier League three years ago.
“They play good football, lively, well organised in a 4-4-2 mostly. Good game plans, playing football, usually with (Troy) Deeney, who was out for a while but is now back,” he said.
“They have quick wingers, very good central midfielders in (Etienne) Capoue, (Abdoulaye) Doucoure. It’s a proper package, for sure the best Watford team since I have been here, the combination with the manager is a really interesting project there.”
Liverpool will break another club record if they can achieve a clean sheet at Vicarage Road, with the possibility of conceding just five goals in their opening 13 league games.
But Klopp is concentrating solely on a victory to keep them hot on the tails of pace-setting Manchester City.
“I didn’t know that, now I will put 11 defenders on the pitch to make sure we can get that record!” he joked. “We don’t go into games thinking about not conceding — we want to win football games. It makes life easier if you don’t concede, and that has been good so far, but it will be a proper challenge.
“They’re just good, it’s no coincidence that they are seventh in the league.”
While many of Klopp’s players enjoyed positive experiences with their national teams — not least Virgil van Dijk and Gini Wijnaldum with Holland — Klopp still believes it is crazy that he loses his players for 10 days just before one of the most crucial parts of the season. Liverpool will play 10 games in the next five weeks in a period which will decide if they can progress into the knockout stages of the Champions League and remain in a challenging position for the title.
“We have an international break, which as a coach is crazy, nine days in the middle of the season without your players,” he said.
“Robbo (Andy Robertson) came back and will train today for the first time after two very intense games for Scotland. We have to now make kind of a new start, two days to put in all what you want them to do. After this we will recover and play, recover and play.
“That’s why you need a good basis, which we have. But let’s carry on. A lot of yards to go, fights to fight. I’m looking forward to it.”