Liverpool‘s new No. 10 Sadio Mane has shed light on why he was itching to take Philippe Coutinho‘s shirt after the Brazilian departed for Barcelona.
Mane, 26, has started the season like a house on fire, scoring four goals in five appearances as the Reds sit top of the Premier League table.
The Senegal international switched shirt numbers ahead of the new campaign, taking the No. 10 left vacant by Coutinho after he secured a lucrative move to Catalonia.
Mane has now revealed that he was eager to switch to the famous jersey as he had previously worn the shirt while playing for Red Bull Salzburg, Southampton and Senegal.
“I was very happy to get it because I have always taken the No.10 everywhere I have gone,” he explained (via Liverpool Echo).
“When I first came to Liverpool, Philippe (Coutinho) had it so I was happy with my number 19.
“But when he left I thought: it is free, I want to take the number 10 because it has always been my favourite number.
“Everywhere I go, I wore No.10 and now I wear it for Liverpool.”
Since Coutinho left Merseyside, Mane has really stepped up to the plate, producing a number of fine performances towards the latter stages of last term, while helping guide the club to a Champions League final.
And already this season, the deadly forward is Liverpool’s top goalscorer; he has also completed the second-most successful dribbles (10) at 1.7 per 90 minutes, taken the joint-most shots on target (10) at 1.7 per 90, and drawn the most fouls (11) at 1.9 per 90.
His influence in games has proven invaluable since moving from Southampton in 2016, and Mane believes his side can continue their good form, approaching this Saturday’s clash with Chelsea free from pressure.
He continued: “Honestly, at the moment we have no pressure,” said the Reds winger. “I can say we have a good team, a big squad and we have got a good amount of points. So why create pressure?
“The confidence is here because we are playing well and winning games so we will try to take it game by game. It is early in the season, we are looking forward and we want to keep more focused than ever.
“This season we want to believe everything is possible. A team like Liverpool can do it, but it will not be easy. We have to believe in ourselves as a team.”
Liverpool face a top-of-the-table clash with Chelsea on Saturday at Stamford Bridge.
The post Sadio Mane explains why he wanted Philippe Coutinho’s No. 10 shirt at Liverpool appeared first on Squawka News.
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