Sadio Mane ‘one of the best players’ in world football

Posted by

Sadio Mane has been lavished with praise by his national team manager on the eve of Senegal’s World Cup opener.

Manager Aliou Cisse believes the Liverpool star is incomparable to any of his fellow countrymen and deserves to be spoken about as one of the top players in the world.

Mane’s side will meet Robert Lewandowski’s Poland in an intriguing Group H matchup for their first appearance at the finals since 2002, when they reached the quarter-finals.

The forward enters the game on the back of a career season over which he registered 20 goals and played an instrumental role in Liverpool reaching the Champions League final and securing a top-four finish.

He now poses as Senegal’s undisputed talisman with the influence capable of inspiring a surprise package.

Cisse told the Mirror: “I don’t want to say he could become one of the best players in the world. He is already one of the best – you have to stress this.”

“He’s unpredictable, at any point he can make the difference with a dribble and pass, so for me he is already one of the best players.”

Sadio Mane – Image by Liverpoolfc.com

He added: “Sadio is a unique player and he can’t be compared to any other Senegal players, even if we’ve had some major ones in the past.”

SEE MORE:
Liverpool willing to pay £35m to land Chelsea target

Mane performed admirably in the absence of Mohamed Salah in May’s European showdown with Real Madrid, continuing his superb form over the closing months of the season.

He was perhaps Jurgen Klopp’s most consistent attacking performer over the club’s concluding Premier League run-in, diminishing unfair criticism earlier in the season over his production in front of goal.

Besides serving as an ever-present threat with his pace and movement in-behind, Mane also added a more notable creative dimension to his game as a key implementor of the bursting runs from deeper central areas.

Whatever the occasion, he has asserted himself as both an accomplished talisman and a regular entertainer.

More Stories Liverpool Sadio Mane Senegal