Liverpool attacker Sadio Mane has expressed his happiness after finishing as the fourth best player in the world. The Senegal international was pivotal towards the club’s Champions League success last season and he managed to finish as the second-best ranked Reds player in the Ballon d’Or ranking after Virgil van Dijk, who was named as the runner-up to Lionel Messi.
Speaking to the club’s official website, Mane was pleased with his ranking for the Ballon d’Or. He added that the team are going through an excellent phase and he is hopeful of bagging the individual prize next term with the Reds going for the Champions League and Premier League double this time around.
He told: “That means we are a great team with great players and great quality. The boys still have a lot to show and hopefully this season we can show it. I am very proud and happy to be named fourth in the world. I am looking forward and why not number one, maybe? I will do everything possible to win the Champions League and Premier League with Liverpool and we’ll see what’s going to happen.”
Liverpool are currently at the top of their Champions League group with 10 points on the board but they are not assured of making it to the round of 16 stage ahead of the final matchday. Red Bull Salzburg, who are presently third on the standings, are three points adrift of them and the Reds could still bow out of the competition with a defeat on the road to the Austrian giants.
Salzburg managed three away goals during the 4-3 defeat at Anfield earlier this season and that has put them in a position where a low-scoring victory would guarantee their progress to the next round. Still, Jurgen Klopp’s side should be favourites to beat Salzburg and it would come as a huge shock, should their defence of the Champions League crown come to an abrupt end.
