Unstoppable: Liverpool can not afford to lose Sadio Mane

The Senegalese has proven he can adapt to any position and accept any role.

The possibility of him getting into Lewandowski's shoes at Bayern suddenly seems realistic - and that's exactly what should stress Jürgen Klopp, for whom the striker's move to Anfield was a correction.

Tonight he has another test against Southampton (21:45, Sport1)

Michael Yochin

17/05/2022

Tuesday, May 17, 2022, 3:00 p.m.

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Summary: Liverpool beat Chelsea 5: 6 in the English Cup final (Sport 1)

Immediately after Liverpool beat Chelsea in the penalty shootout in the English Cup final, Sadio Mane went to comfort Edouard Mendy.

He is beginning to get used to these experiences.

After the two victories in Senegal's penalties over Egypt in the African Championship final and World Cup qualifiers, he comforted his Anfield teammate Muhammad Salah, then celebrated with Mandy.

Now he volunteered to reassure his teammate before going to rejoice with the Reds.

Because that's his way - Mana always thinks of those who lost even when he won.

It will be very difficult to find in the whole world a player less selfish than him, and this is reflected in all possible areas.

It is natural, however, that any team would be happy to see Mana in its ranks, with reports recently circulating of great interest in Bayern Munich.

The German champions know that the Senegalese's contract with Liverpool expires in a year, and contacts for his renewal have not yet borne fruit - just as in the case of Muhammad Salah.

This gives the player himself and potential buyers significant power in negotiations, and sporting director Hassan Sailmidcic expressed cautious optimism on the issue.

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Always think of those who lost even when he won.

Mana with the Stones (Photo: Reuters)

But which slot does Bayern designate for Mana?

Should he succeed Serge Gnabry who himself refuses to extend his contract at Bayern, or perhaps Robert Lewandowski who has already announced he will not stay in Munich after 2023?

Both may be sold this summer, and a mana option is excellent in this regard because he is able to perform both roles.

In fact, during his years at Anfield the Senegalese demonstrated how he adapts to new challenges when the team needs it.

Liverpool have never adapted to him, and he has always adapted to them.

Many have already forgotten, but the first season at Liverpool was clearly spent by Mana as a right-wing player.

This was his definition when he was acquired from Southampton in the summer of 2016 for £ 34 million, and this is how Jürgen Klopp intended to take advantage of him. 2014. Who knows, maybe if he had reached the Yellow-Blacks that season, he would have helped the team continue in successes, Borussia would not have run into a deep crisis, and Klopp would not have decided to leave for Anfield.

Either way, two years later this miraculous match was launched in England, and the Senegalese provided a good first year - but then Muhammad Salah came from Rome and took his position.

The solution was simple - move Mana to the second wing.

After all, he has played on the left many times in Southampton, and knows how to cut to the center in order to express his strong right foot.

For Mana there was no problem with the subject.

He happily adopted the new role, upgraded it and became one of the biggest stars in the world as a left-winger.

The decision to bring him to Liverpool was a correction for Klopp for not acquiring him in time when he was Dortmund's coach.

Mana in Southampton uniform (Photo: GettyImages, Bryn Lennon)

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Then came Luis Diaz.

The Colombian joined last January from Porto to add a lot of energy and positive cheekiness, and soon became a very dominant player on the roster.

It was a brilliant signing that brought new life to the team, but for Mana it could have been a problem - after all, Diaz had settled exactly his position.

Klopp once again had a simple solution - he moved the Senegalese to the center.

Diego Jote is back as a bench player alongside Roberto Firmino, and Mana is now a wide beast.

This role, too, by the way, he has played well in Southampton on many occasions, and here too the success is dizzying.

"Diaz's signing did not add to Sadio's motivation, because he should not be motivated. He always gives the maximum. The change simply suits his skills because he is able to play effectively as a key striker. Now he is also back in excellent physical shape after the natural retreat he had at the end of the championship. Africa, "Klopp said after the win over Manchester City in the Cup semi-final in mid-April.

Mane then scored a double, including a special goal when he stole the ball from goalkeeper Zack Stefan who tried to dribble past him.

"A striker can only score like that if you are fresh enough to chase and press the goalkeeper as he did," Klopp remarked, and Mana's mobility in his new role is really impressive.

This was Firmino's most powerful feature at its peak, and the Senegalese also performs a huge work force: puts pressure on the opponent's brakes, and also clears areas for his teammates efficiently.

His great game wisdom allows him to read the moves, so he knows how to position himself correctly to make the biggest contribution to the team.

It is enough to see his involvement in the first three goals in 0: 4 over Manchester United to understand this.

"Diaz's signing did not add to Sadio's motivation, because there is no need to add motivation to him."

Luis Diaz (Photo: Reuters)

Mana first sent a deep ball from the center of the field in the direction of Salah, who galloped from the right and cooked for Dias.

He then cooked for Salah himself with a particularly brilliant spinning ball - the Senegalese came out of the box to do so, clearing his territory for an Egyptian.

Then, in the second half, he was already a classic No. 9 when he went into the box, slowed down a bit to mislead Harry Maguire, was left unmarked and sent in lightly Diaz's wide delivery.

These were three completely different actions, requiring a completely different range of skills - but all highlighting how tailor-made the new position is to Mana.

He's fantastic on the wing, but blooms even more when he has complete freedom of action across the pitch.

He plays her Firmino even better than Firmino at his peak.

He also has an outstanding head game - especially for a player who is only 175 inches tall.

In the final round against Aston Villa, he almost scored with a shot in the first half when he bounced over Tyrone Mings who rises to 196 inches.

The Senegalese hovered in the air and defeated his opponent almost effortlessly.

Not for nothing does Klopp say that his physical data is dreamy and rare on any scale.

That ball whistled near the post, so Mana scored the winning goal after the break.

It too was a bump, but completely different - delicate, elegant, with no bouncing at all.

Just had to be in the right place at the right time, more cunning than the two unfortunate brakes who completely missed him.

In short, he has it all.

Mana is not only a formidable extremist - he is also a formidable central striker.

If Bayern manage to get their hands on him, he will also easily get into Lewandowski's shoes if necessary.

The Senegalese will do it in a different style, but the team will not have to adapt to it.

He will adapt himself to it, as he always does.

He is a dream player for any coach - an egoless team star who thinks first of others, but also excels in himself.

Then, after the victories, he takes care to comfort the losers, especially if these are his friends.

If Liverpool lose Mana, a very significant part of the team spirit will disappear with it (Photo: Reuters)

Liverpool must therefore not give up on him in any way.

The Salah-Mana-Dias trio only started collaborating in early 2022, and the potential here is huge - it can also be good compared to the Salah-Firmino-Mana trio.

The Senegalese's contract should be renewed immediately, without delay, and this troubling issue removed from the agenda.

Because if the Reds lose Mana, a very significant part of the team spirit will disappear along with it, and this gap will be almost impossible to fill.

Only a mana can be a mana.

And meanwhile, he returns tonight to the Ex-Stadium to try and take three points from Southampton and keep the chance of winning the championship in the final round.

Saints fans still love him because he left behind phenomenal memories after the two seasons he spent with the team.

Just yesterday they marked 7 years to the day he scored a hat-trick in 176 seconds for Aston Villa - the fastest trio in league history.

On all previous visits as a guest player he will be in charge of the wing.

Tonight they are expected to receive him in the position of central striker and applaud him.

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