Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed what Sadio Mane needs to do if he is to win the Ballon d’Or.
The Senegalese has racked up 10 goals across all competitions since the end of February, including in Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Villarreal in the Champions League semi-final and there have been talks of him winning the accolade should they win the quadruple.
Asked about Mane’s chances with the individual award, Klopp said: “Wow! He plays an outstanding season, Sadio is an outstanding player, I have nothing to do with the Ballon d’Or nomination and all these kinds of things, I don’t understand it really 100 percent.
“He is world-class and played again a really good game for us. I don’t know exactly how you come to that question now, the season is not even over. Historically you have to win something, I think, to win the Ballon d’Or most of the time.
“It was like this, that if you are not Messi or Ronaldo you have to win probably the Champions League, which we didn’t do yet so give us a few more weeks, and then we will see where we end up. Sadio wants to contribute, Sadio wants to help the team and that’s what I love most of all.”
The club trophies added to the African Cup of Nation trophy he won with Senegal will put Mane in a better place in fighting for the award.
