Jurgen Klopp struggled to hide his amusement upon learning that Sadio Mane was unaware he is set to become the proud owner of a Premier League winners’ medal.
Liverpool continued their relentless march towards the title on Monday when they came from behind to beat West Ham at Anfield, equalling a division record of 19 consecutive victories.
Klopp’s side require just four more wins to confirm their status as domestic champions for the first time since 1990 and few players have been more instrumental to their success than Mane.
The Senegal international scored the winner against the Hammers, taking his tally for the current campaign to 13, while he has also registered six assists.
Regardless of the result at Watford tomorrow, it is only a matter of time before Liverpool scoop the prize which has evaded them for so long, but their star forward was blissfully unaware of the memento coming his way.
Reporter: ð£”Sadio Mane said he didn’t know you got a Premier league medal for winning”
Jurgen Klopp’s reaction ð¤£ð¤£ pic.twitter.com/YkaXgXkSto
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) February 28, 2020
‘I heard yesterday that if we win the league, we will have a medal,’ Mane told BBC World Service. ‘I never knew that happened, but I don’t care about medals.’
Responding to Mane’s admission, Klopp let out a trademark booming laugh, before saying: ‘I haven’t got a clue what we get really.
‘So that was not in my first meeting before the start of the season we did not talk about that, a Premier League trophy or medal or whatever.
‘We tried like always to make the best the boys skills, the character the boys show week in and week out, that’s it. In the end for us it’s even more so a surprise it’s nice if you get something.’
Despite Liverpool’s current dominance, meanwhile, Mane denied his side’s success has been straightforward and maintained the level of competition is ferocious in the Premier League.
He added: ‘Easy? Oh, I wish. We know the Premier League is the best league in the world and every single game you have to give 100% if you want to win.
‘It’s what we always try and I think it’s working very well but we have to keep working hard to get what we want.
‘Our target from the beginning was to win the league, so if we win it, it will be great for the club and for the fans.’
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