MANE A TEAR HAS TO FALL ...BUT IT’S ALL IN THE GAME
No hard feelings says Klopp after Sadio fallout – that is just part of football
JURGEN KLOPP says he WILL hold heart-to-heart talks with Sadio Mane but WON’T judge him on one emotional incident.
The Senegal star was visibly upset after his brief substitute’s role in the victory at Manchester United on Thursday, refusing his manager’s handshake and storming
away mouthing what appeared to be angry words.
But Klopp dismissed suggestions that he will discipline the forward, saying: “Do I want these things to happen? No. But it’s not the first time in my life and I’m afraid to say it won’t be the last time.
“We will talk about it, then it will be sorted. That’s all, there will be nothing left. Everything will be fine.”
It’s not the first time one of Klopp’s players has shown him dissent at Old Trafford.
Jordan Henderson appeared to do just that when being substituted there in February 2019 (above), and the manager confronted his skipper.
Liverpool were drawing 0-0 with 20 minutes remaining and Klopp decided to bring off Henderson for winger Xherdan Shaqiri.
Henderson was clearly disappointed with the move and ignored Klopp’s offer of a handshake and a hug as he left the pitch.
The German confronted Henderson and a video shows him saying, “You ignored me!” But all was swiftly sorted.
Klopp added: “Football is an emotional game and everyone expects us to control our emotions, but it doesn’t always work.
“I’m a completely normal guy, but if you’d seen me as a player, what I did out of emotion was insane.
“If somebody shows me five million times respect and one time not, what is then more important?
“The world is in a situation when you make this one time bigger than necessary. I hope that your boss, if you one time don’t show him respect, doesn’t forget the other stuff.”
Klopp is now likely to restore Mane to his starting line-up for the trip to West Brom tomorrow.