Sadio Mane says he tries to emulate Ronaldinho by playing with a smile on his face.
Liverpool has made a superb start to the season and a massive part of this is due to the mercurial Sadio Mane. The Senegal international moved from Southampton to Liverpool for a £36 million fee and he has proven that he is worth every penny.
According to Squawka, Mane has scored three goals and provided one assist in six Premier League games this season. His form has been crucial to the potency of the Reds’ attacking line and his enjoyment of the game shows as he always looks to be enjoying himself. This, he says is a result of his desire to emulate Ronaldinho’s famed habit of playing with a smile on his face.
“Some people say I don’t smile enough. I think that’s wrong. I’m usually smiling and having a laugh in training because I enjoy football,” he told the latest edition of Liverpool FC’s official magazine.
“Ronaldinho always did that and I’ve always tried to copy him. I think footballers have plenty of reasons to smile. We have a great job that everybody would like to have.”
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Jurgen Klopp’s high-pressing style of play has yielded great results this season and Mane credits this to lots of hard work on the training pitch at Melwood.
“It’s a system where everybody knows their job. Roberto, Coutinho, Studge, Adam… we know each other’s game,” he said.
“It’s become easier for us thanks to working on it and we are enjoying playing this way. Whether I’m starting up front or out wide isn’t really the most important thing.
“The manager says be free and then get into dangerous areas where you can hurt the opposition.”
Mane will be crucial to Liverpool’s chances of success, not only this season but when Manchester United visit Anfield next week for a clash that could have great consequences for the rest of the Premier League season.
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