SADIO MANE is coming to terms with the prospect of Liverpool NOT being crowned champions.
The Senegal star put the suffering of millions before his personal desire to end the Reds’ 30 years of title hurt.
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And it shows his human touch after his Anfield bosses were shamed into reversing their decision to furlough non-playing staff.
Mane, 27, and his Liverpool team-mates lie 25 points clear at the top of the Premier League.
They were just TWO wins off bringing a first title back to the club since 1990 before the coronavirus lockdown.
With the season suspended indefinitely there have been calls to make the campaign null and void.
Meanwhile Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin said this week there is “no way” Jurgen Klopp’s men will not be named champs.
Either way Mane is prepared to ‘accept’ his fate. The practising Muslim said: “It has been difficult for Liverpool.
Some people have lost family members, that is the more complicated situation. For myself, it’s my dream and I want to win it this year. If that’s not the case, I will accept, it’s part of life.
Sadio Mane
“But it has been more difficult for many millions of people around the world. Some people have lost family members, that is the more complicated situation.
“For myself, it’s my dream and I want to win it this year. I want to win the games and I want to get the trophy.
“If that’s not the case, I will accept, it’s part of life.
“With this situation whatever happens I will understand and hopefully we will win it next year.”
Mane welcomed Liverpool’s U-turn on Monday over deciding to furlough staff, saying: “Yes. It’s a really, really good club, like a family, the coaches, the staff, the players, everybody.”
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Speaking on talkSPORT after the release of documentary Made in Senegal, Mane showed humility over the battle to be named player of the season.
He is in the race with skipper Jordan Henderson but the 27-year-old said: “I would go for Henderson. He’s been a big part of our success this year both defensively and in attack.
“He was really good this year. A really good leader and a great captain.”
He also praised boss Klopp, who revealed in the Rakuten TV film that he walked away from trying to sign him from RB Salzburg when he was boss of Borussia Dortmund.
The German thought he looked like a “rapper” back in 2013 and knows he got the winger all wrong. Klopp took him to Anfield from Southampton three years later.
Mane said of Klopp: “He’s more positive than ever which is his strength and makes him so special.”
Back in his home village of Bambali, Mane is funding the construction of a hospital. He has also donated £41,000 to his country’s Covid-19 fight.
Mane added: “It’s a really tough moment not just for Senegal but for all of the world – it is really important to stick together to fight.”
