Modest Mane the main man

SADIO MANE’S father was the imam of the mosque in Bambali, the Senegalese village where he grew up and was unconvinced about his son’s dreams to be a footballer. His father thought it would change him for the worse, possibly make him more worldly. He really need not have worried. There probably isn’t a footballer on the planet less in search of the limelight than Mane. Certainly there is unlikely to be one as good as Mane, pictured, who is reluctant to make a fuss about himself. Last Wednesday in Munich, he scored two wonderful goals, his 10th goal in as many games. The first, when he sensed the foolishness of Manuel Neuer rushing from his line, then dummied him before calmly lifting the ball over him and assorted defenders, was a delight. “It was a really nice goal,” he says, with that shy grin. That’s as close to ego as he will venture. He had to be coerced into TV interviews that night. By the time he emerged into the tunnel area at Allianz Arena, it was so late, almost all the media had left. As he speaks, he bows his head, making only occasional eye contact and looks as though he still wonders what all the fuss is about. Most strikers have a selfish streak, he is told, and he looks incredulous. “I think this is not important for the team,” he says. “We are not here to be conquerors. I think it doesn’t help the team. For us the team is more important all the time. “We are trying to play together and help each other to score goals. And move forward to win something.” This past Sunday Mane drew level with Mohamed Salah, on 19 goals for the season, when he scored in Liverpool’s 2-1 away win against Fulham. Liverpool now top the table standing ahead of Manchester City. And since Salah has struggled for goalscoring form, with a run of six games without a goal, Mane has picked up the slack. Of course, the interaction between the pair and Roberto Firmino is the key to this Liverpool team, as was demonstrated by the sublime cross from Salah for Mane for the second in Munich. Yet for now it is Mane who picks up the scoring mantle. “We have a very good relationship,” says Mane. “Sometimes it’s not easy if a player doesn’t score goals but it really important for us to play together as a team and to help each other. Sometimes Mo scores, sometimes Bobby, sometimes me. This is great for the team.” Mane felt it important that they stayed in the Champions League to maintain momentum in the Premier League. Liverpool are 13 points better off in the league than this time last year. “The team, of course, is better. We’ve improved a lot even if it was not an easy few weeks.” Partly it is the defensive stats. Liverpool had conceded 34 goals in the league this time last year, yet just 17 so far this season.