Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has accused Atletico Madrid’s players of deliberately attempting to try and get Sadio Mane sent off in the Champions League during a 1-0 defeat at the Wanda Metropolitano.
The European cup holders Liverpool suffered only their fourth loss of the campaign in Tuesday’s Round of last 16 in the first leg after Saul Niguez’s fourth-minute goal which gave the Spanish outfit an advantage.
The 52-year-old German made the surprise decision to substitute Senegalese winger Mane who was the match-winner against Norwich City at Carrow Road during the weekend fixture and he was replaced by Divock Origi at half-time.
Mane was cautioned with a yellow card for clashing with right-back Sime Vrsaljko and the Atleti’s players pleaded with referee Szymon Marciniak to dismiss the African Player of the Year when he caught the Croatian once again with a flailing elbow.
Following the conclusion of the game, Klopp then confirmed that the decision to replace Mane was not down to an injury concern as he had only recently returned from a hamstring injury.
But Klopp has explained the reason behind his substitution of Mane was due to the constant targeting from Atletico players to wind up the Liverpool superstar. He spoke to reporters and said, “It’s part of football, I don’t like it, but the plan was to get Sadio out the game with a second yellow card, I was a little afraid the opponent would go down even if Sadio had a deep breath. I didn’t want that situation, that’s why I took him off.”
