What Sadio Mané told former Liverpool player about Jürgen Klopp sums up manager's legacy

Sadio Mané has put his success at Liverpool down to Jürgen Klopp, according to former Reds signing El-Hadji Diouf.

Mané was one of the cornerstones of Klopp’s most successful period at Anfield, which saw Liverpool claim the Champions League and Premier League in 2019 and 2020. The Senegal international scored 120 goals and added 38 assists during his six years at the club before moving to Bayern Munich in 2022.

Alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, Mané formed one of the most potent attacks in Premier League history. The trio were instrumental in Liverpool’s success under Klopp before being split up following Mané’s departure.

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The 32-year-old, now plying his trade in Saudi Arabia, was brought to Anfield by Klopp in 2016. Signed for around $43m (£34m/€40m) from Southampton, Mané would more than justify the fee.

And, ahead of Klopp’s final games in charge of Liverpool, former Reds forward Diouf has lifted the lid on what he has been told by fellow countryman Mané about the German.

“I don’t really know him personally but I'm very close to Sadio Mané, and Sadio tells me that [Klopp] is a great guy and the reason he had a very successful time at Liverpool,” Diouf told rg.org.

"He's done great things for most of the African players. The Premier League is the best in the world, I was lucky to play there, and if today we get the chance to have a lot of African players, it will be great for the African game.”

Liverpool.com says: While plenty of rival fans are eager to try and play down Klopp’s impact based purely on the number of trophies he won at Anfield, Liverpool fans and players know the truth. The difference he has made at Liverpool is much greater.

Mané is just one of the players to have become a superstar under Klopp’s guidance, with the German improving virtually every player that has played under him. You only need to look at how many of them have fared after moving on from Liverpool to see what sort of impact he has made.