GALACTICOS v GOALACTICOS
Mane backs Liverpool’s three amigos to outgun Real’s superstars and bring back the Champions League trophy from Kiev
SADIO MANE has told Liverpool fans the Reds will outgun Real Madrid in the battle of Europe’s super strikers later this month.
The Champions League showdown in Kiev is one of the most eagerly-anticipated European finals of all time, with two goal-crazy frontlines and two managers who love to go forward.
Asked if Jurgen’s Klopp emphasis on attacking football gives Liverpool belief they can topple the Spanish giants in Ukraine, Mane (left) replied: “Yes, honestly we do.
“I can say that we have a lot of respect for Madrid, one of the best teams in the world, but we are Liverpool. We are strong and we can beat any team in the world.
“We believe that. So we believe we can go there and beat them.”
There is a genuine swagger about Liverpool right now, a compelling momentum to their play offered by a front three who have scored 29 goals between them in the Champions League.
Yet they know Mo Salah’s brilliance will be countered by the genius of Cristiano Ronaldo, and a support act including the likes of Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale.
Liverpool, though, have a back-to-form Mane and Roberto Firmino to back up 43goal Salah and, according to Reds defender Dejan Lovren, that will place a very different emphasis on the final for the ages.
“Why should we fear them? They should fear us,”
Lovren (right) said.
And asked about the ‘For the 13th’ T-shirts Madrid, who have 12 European Cup wins, wore immediately after their semi-final defeat of Bayern Munich, Lovren hinted that arrogance might be their downfall. “They are quite confident but we don’t care for that, we are focused on our job,” he said. “To win the final you must play against the best teams and the best teams are us and Real Madrid. Let’s see what will happen.”
For Senegal international Mane, reaching the final is one of his greatest moments, but he does not want to stop there.
Liverpool will go to
Kiev and take the game to Real, he promised. That, after all, has been their approach all season.
“We are going to go there and fight – for the fans, for the club – and win the final. We have the players. We can score goals, we have shown that, and there is nothing to be afraid of,” he said,
Mane was still beaming hours after the final whistle in Rome on Wednesday, and he explained that was because of the party in the dressing room.
“Everybody was dancing, like crazy,” he said. “Every- body was so happy, dancing together, we enjoyed the moment together.
“It was special to be in that dressing room, such an incredible moment.”
If there is a change at the club, Lovren said, it is the mentality that German boss Klopp has fostered, one which allows them to view even Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid without trepidation.
“He has given the club its pride back,” the big centreback said.
“Everyone feels that. Everyone should be proud that we have a manager like him.”