Sadio Mane has produced the perfect response to Pep Guardiola, claiming he will ‘dive’ if he feels contact this weekend.
Liverpool welcome to Manchester City to Anfield on Sunday afternoon, for what could prove to be the defining game in the Premier League title race this season.
Guardiola accused Mane is being a diver last weekend, in an unprovoked attack on the Reds superstar.
The 27-year-old has laughed off the accusations in the perfect manner, however, rather than stoking the fire ahead of the weekend showdown.
Mane backs up Jurgen Klopp’s claims that he isn’t a diver, but admits he will go to ground if he is touched, whether it be against City or any other team:
If it could be a penalty for sure I will ‘dive’ again.
If the ‘dive’ will give me a penalty then I will do it! Why not? But what Jurgen said is correct. I do not dive.
There was contact (at Villa) for sure. Maybe it was not a penalty and he didn’t give it, and he gave me a yellow card. To be honest I don’t have any problem about it.
It’s what I want to keep doing. If I get a penalty, yeah it’s a penalty. If no penalty, no penalty, but (it) will never change the way I’m playing or the way I’m doing my things.
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This is a great response from Mane, who has been typically honest about his approach to games.
There is a huge difference between diving and going to ground easily – at the end of the day, if a player feels contact, it is often in his best interest to go down.
Mane is smart in the way he wins penalties, much like City man Raheem Sterling, but neither are divers.
This weekend’s clash is sure to make for fascinating viewing, especially with Guardiola’s accusations adding an extra edge to proceedings.
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