Klopp Hits Back at Guardiola’s Mané Criticism

We all agree that Sadio Mané is, literally, a perfect human being, right? That’s not something I have to explain or argue on this esteemed website. We’ve all just...accepted this as fact, right?

If you needed any more reason to want to beat Manchester City on Sunday, then look no further than Pep Guardiola, who had some snitty things to say about Mané after the Senegalese winger got served a yellow card for simulation last Saturday.

“Sometimes he’s diving, sometimes he has this talent to score incredible goals in the last minute. He’s a talent,” Guardiola said, in a dictionary definition of a backhanded compliment.

Not one to let his players be impugned, Klopp hit back at Guardiola in his pre-Genk press conference in a typically Kloppian manner.

“I couldn’t really believe it to be honest and then I saw it,” said Klopp. “I am not sure if Pep spoke in that moment about Sadio or the team - both is not too nice to be honest.

”I am not too sure if I want to put oil on the fire. I am not interested in these kind of things. And I promise not to mention tactical fouls. That is maybe already too much, but that is the only thing I say about it.”

Oof. Never change, Kloppo.