Advertisement
Sadio Mane celebrates against Tottenham
A One Mane Show

There's more to Liverpool than Mane, claims Wijnaldum

The Liverpool midfielder has played down the importance of the Senegalese striker.

GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM HAS dismissed suggestions Liverpool are overly reliant on Sadio Mane.

Jurgen Klopp’s men struggled to find their best form during the Senegal international’s time away at the Africa Cup of Nations, crashing out of the FA Cup and EFL Cup as well as falling behind in the race for the Premier League title.

The former Southampton man demonstrated his importance with two goals to help Liverpool record a 2-0 win over Tottenham in only his second full game since his return, but Wijnaldum is adamant the Reds are not all about Mane.

“He is really important, but it is too much Sadio Mane now,” Wijnaldum told the Liverpool Echo.

“He scored two goals but I also think it has been about him because we had poor results without Sadio.

“Before he left for Africa we had good results, only against Sunderland we did not have a good result. Still they said ‘Sadio Mane, Sadio Mane’ but last week we lost with Sadio Mane.

“I don’t think it is fair to the other players to say ‘because of Sadio Mane we win’. Of course he is a great player, he helps us with his speed and he scores goals, but I think it is more about the team than only Sadio Mane.

“It is normal that if you have poor results without Sadio everyone will say ‘Sadio Mane’. If it was another player like when Phil [Coutinho] was injured, if we had poor results then everyone would have said ‘Phil Coutinho’. You have to get used to it but I don’t think it is fair.”

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

‘I was just being clever’ – Ajax’s Joel Veltman defends shameless injury stunt

Celtic star has potential of Coutinho and Sterling, says Rodgers

Your Voice
Readers Comments
13
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.