HOULLIER THE MANE HELPER
had to make sure he was well looked after. LIVERPOOL can thank “When I was at former manager Gerard Liverpool, I introduced a Houllier for placing a shy player liaison scheme Sadio Mane on the road where foreign players to Anfield fame. would be helped to settle
The Senegal star, 26, into a new and strange has developed into environment. We did the Liverpool’s main man. same at Salzburg where
While last season’s shy Sadio joined a player of the year Mo French-speaking family. Salah hasn’t scored in “We played a friendly seven games and against Bayern Munich Roberto Firmino hasn’t and Salzburg won 3-0. made his usual impact, He scored one and made it’s been left to Mane to one. Bayern wanted to grasp the baton. sign him after that.”
Mane’s 11 goals in his Instead, it was last 11 appearances have Southampton who made ensured progress into the decisive move with the quarter-finals of the Saints boss Ronald Champions League and Koeman overseeing a kept up the pressure on £11.5m transfer. Manchester City in the Ironically, the transfer scramble for the title. to the south coast also
It’s a far cry from the came after Mane had days Mane was spoken with Jurgen attempting to make his Klopp, who was then mark with a Metz side manager of Borussia battling against Dortmund. Klopp relegation from is still annoyed the French that he passed Ligue 2. up on signing
But, as a the striker the 19-year-old, he first time managed to around. catch the eye Klopp of Houllier, confessed: “I who had have made a moved on to few mistakes Austrian side in my life and Red Bull Salzburg, one of the biggest charged with discovering mistakes ever was not exciting new talent. taking Sadio when I was
Houllier said: “I first at Dortmund. We were saw him playing for together in my office but Senegal in the 2012 I wasn’t sure about London Olympics. signing him. It was
“What I liked straight completely my fault.” away was his speed and Mane finally arrived at ability on the ball. It was Anfield in June 2016, but fantastic for a boy of his Liverpool had to fend off age. I had also seen him strong interest from on French television. Manchester United.
“I quickly discovered Houllier said: “He’s an that Metz would be ideal player for Liverpool. willing to sell for financial “You can compare his reasons. Salzburg agreed speed on the ball with to buy him and we paid PSG’S Kylian Mbappe. I £4million. The potential know other big clubs in was there and we just Europe would love him.”
LIVERPOOL boss Jurgen Klopp is hot on the heels of Serbia striker Luka Jovic, who has scored 22 goals on loan from Benfica at Eintracht Frankfurt this season. But Barcelona, Manchester City and United, Chelsea and Bayern Munich are in the mix.
‘Mane’s speed on the ball compares with PSG’S Mbappe’