Mane makes worrying admission ahead of UEFA Super Cup clash vs Chelsea

August 14, 2019 By Ali M.

Topics: Sadio Mane, Chelsea, Liverpool, UEFA Super Cup

The Senegalese missed the pre-season due to his AFCON 2019 campaign but is expected to feature against the Blues.

Liverpool are gearing up for their highly-anticipated UEFA Super Cup clash with Chelsea. After the Champions League and Europa League were conquered by two Premier League sides, an all-English affair was always going to be the outcome.

One player who is expected to play a key role for the Reds is Sadio Mane. The Senegalese forward was an influential figure in their 2018/19 campaign, winning the Premier League Golden Boot alongside Mohamed Salah and Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

He played no part in the Merseyside giants’ pre-season due to his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations and made a late cameo in the 4-1 win over Norwich City on Friday but he is expected to play a bigger part in Wednesday’s encounter. However, the former Southampton ace has made a worrying admission.

The attacker confessed to being mentally fatigue ahead of the Istanbul showdown with the Blues. He was given just over two weeks to rest and recharge his batteries after guiding his nation to the Africa Cup of Nations final, which they lost to Algeria, but the attacker states that he hasn’t had a true holiday in seven years.

Nonetheless, he insists that he is ready for Wednesday’s game and needs only to overcome the issue in his mind. “For sure, I am ready to start. Let’s do this. Tiredness is only here [points to his head],” he said ahead of the game, as per the Daily Mail.

“I don’t think I have had a holiday in seven years, so I’m used to it.”

Mane might be physically fit and match ready to start, but mental fatigue is something that Klopp will worry over. The season has only begun and with the Reds set to compete in five competitions, excluding the Super Cup, he will need all his players in the right state of mind.

Fortunately, this is the season in which the Premier League winter break will come into force. As is the norm with several other top European championships, the English top-flight will take a 10-day break in February following a grueling December and January schedule.