James homes in more glory
Sadio success smells like team spirit
SADIO MANE insists he feels no pressure to spearhead Senegal’s hopes – and claims the team’s strong mentality will see them thrive in Russia.
In-form Liverpool ace Mane is expected to be one of Senegal’s top performers at the World Cup following the African nation’s 16-year absence. Mane is no stranger to the big stage after his starring role in the Reds’ run to the Champions League final.
He was on target in both semi-final legs against Roma and grabbed Liverpool’s goal in the 3-1 defeat by Real Madrid in Kiev. Despite injuries earlier in the season, Mane finished with 10 Premier League goals and another 10 in the Champions League for good measure.
The attacker continues to impress at international level since making his debut in 2012.
And now fans of the Lions of Teranga are hoping Mane can deliver when it matters most – just like talisman El-hadji Diouf, who helped Senegal to the quarter-finals in 2002.
Mane, 26, who has 14 goals in 51 caps, admits: “Poland, Japan, Colombia – that’s a tough group.
“But you have to believe in yourself and believe in what you are doing all the time.
“You try to do the job all together and hopefully we will qualify from the group.
“Honestly, personally, I don’t know the word ‘pressure’ because I enjoy my job all the time. The main man all the time is the Senegal team, which makes us really good.” Coach Aliou Cisse, who played in the Premier League for Birmingham and Portsmouth, usually favours a 4-3-3 formation which should suit Mane as Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp employs a similar system.
It saw Mane help create both goals in the vital away win in South Africa which clinched a ticket to Russia.
Senegal have an impressive, strong spine with Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly in defence, Everton’s Idrissa Gueye in midfield and Mane up top.
Cisse is one of the only two native African coaches in Russia together with Tunisia’s Nabil Maaloul.
He has pledged to help Mane recover from the Champions League final to star in Russia, and said: “We have been setting up special training for him to rest and recover, so that he can have time to breathe.” ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI will look to use this World Cup as a springboard to land a huge summer transfer.
The Bayern Munich striker (below) is after a ‘new challenge’, with Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City interested in the £175million-rated ace. The Poland captain, 29, is the first player to score 16 goals in a European zone World Cup qualifying campaign to take his tally to 52 in 93 caps.
Now he will look to land the Golden Boot after Poland, ranked 10th in the world, won eight out of 10 qualifiers.