After Liverpool beat Villarreal on Wednesday (2-0) in the Champions League semi-final first leg, Jurgen Klopp responded in a press conference about Sadio Mane’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or this season. For the German, the Reds must win “something” important in the coming weeks.

Wednesday’s top scorer, Sadio Mane contributed to Liverpool’s victory over Villarreal in the Champions League semi-final first leg (2-0). Already winning the Africa Cup of Nations at the start of the year with Senegal, the Reds striker is able to add to his record in the coming weeks and emerge as a serious candidate for the Ballon d’Or.

After a rebound from Jordan Henderson turned into a goal (53), Sadio Mane scored the position (55) in the penalty area with a pass from Mohamed Salah. The 30-year-old signed a twentieth achievement this season with the club, in 44 matches he played.

In response to a question about the chances of seeing his player win the Ballon d’Or, which will be awarded in the summer of this year, Jürgen Klopp preferred to postpone. “Sadio is an exceptional player. I don’t have anything to do with the Ballon d’Or and that kind of thing. He’s a world-class player. He played a good game for us again tonight. But I don’t understand how you can ask me that question, when the season isn’t over”, answered the German technician .

“Sadio wants to help the team and that’s what I love”

Liverpool have already won the Premier League Cup this season and can still hope to win the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup, which would then be a historic quartet. Klopp said again: “Historically, you have to win something to win the Ballon d’Or. If you’re not Messi or Ronaldo, you probably have to win the Champions League, which we haven’t done yet. A few weeks and we’ll see. Sadio wants to help the team and that’s what I love.” “.

The main candidates for Sadio Mane are Karim Benzema, Robert Lewandowski and even Kylian Mbappe. But the last two cities are no longer in the race for the Champions League, unlike the Real Madrid striker who holds his side, with already 14 goals in the competition.

When Liverpool last won the Champions League in 2019, Lionel Messi won the Ballon d’Or ahead of Virgil van Dijk. Sadio Mane let him down at the foot of the podium.