Sadio Mane says he "will never forget" his time with Liverpool having made a move to Bayern Munich in the recent transfer window.
Mane joined the Reds from Southampton in 2016 and spent six successful years at the club, winning both the Premier League and the Champions League.
And while the 30-year-old now plies his trade in the Bundesliga, he says he will always have fond memories of playing for Liverpool.
"Honestly, I will never forget my time there," Mane told UEFA.com.
"I learned a lot – as a man and as a football player. The supporters were amazing, the people from the city were amazing. It is a club that will stay in my heart forever.
"It is also a legendary club – they have won everything. And also, it is the club that had all the best Champions League nights."
Mane cited the 2019 Champions League final win against Tottenham in Madrid as a particular highlight, adding: "I remember the second goal that Divock Origi scored very well. I was over the moon at that moment. I couldn't believe it.
"I just thought back to my childhood, when I was watching the Champions League. I found myself playing a final and, more importantly, winning it.
"It was amazing – 2019 was an outstanding year. The celebrations, the club, you just had to be there to understand. I think over half a million people were out in the streets waiting for us to parade our trophy. It was just beautiful."
The Senegal international has endured a mixed start to his Bayern career, scoring three in three league games to start the season but then going on a run of five appearances without a goal in all competitions before finally finding the net again in Friday's 4-0 thumping of Bayer Leverkusen.
And he admitted his move to Germany had not all been plain sailing so far, saying: "Switching from one club to another is not easy.
"I spent eight very nice years in England, six years at Liverpool [after] two at Southampton, and now I am in a new country. It is not easy because everything changes so suddenly, people, training, everything.
"Everything is changing so it is not easy at all. I need to adapt. I knew that and it came as no surprise. It is happening just the way I imagined it.
"People here are welcoming, and they're real players. People around the club are amazing so I am very happy.
"We have a very, very young squad. It's the first time in my career that I have been part of such a young group. What really stands out to me is that they're all hungry. They all want to develop and they're attentive too.
"Training sessions are as intense as the games. It's important as I think it makes a real difference and it shows. It’s so easy to play alongside these youngsters, who are massively talented and promising."
Brendan Rodgers says meeting the Pope a ‘real privilege’ and ‘life achievement’
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has described his meeting with the Pope as a “life achievement”.
Rodgers was part of a delegation of Celtic coaches, players and directors who were granted a private audience with Pope Francis on Wednesday morning, following their Champions League defeat by Lazio in Rome the previous night.
Rodgers said: “It was obviously a real privilege for us all to have the invitation to go there.
“It was a really humbling experience and it felt like a life achievement to meet him. It was so nice, everyone that came out of the room that morning felt really privileged and really honoured.”
Pope Francis told the Celtic delegation that while winning was always preferred, it was not the most important aspect.
Quoted on the Vatican website, he added: “More vital is the example you give when winning or losing, both on and off the field. An example that embodies the virtues of courage, perseverance, generosity and respect for the God-given dignity of others.
“Indeed, Celtic Football Club was founded in 1887 with the specific goal of alleviating poverty in the city of Glasgow. This was truly a charitable undertaking for the sake of the most needy of our brothers and sisters.
“Yet, how much the world of football has changed since then. In particular, the financial footprint of the ‘beautiful game’ has greatly increased, and at times can risk making football only attractive for reasons of monetary profit.
“The valued legacy of your club, then, places a heavy responsibility upon your shoulders, reminding you to be good role models, especially for young people.”
Thomas Tuchel wants improvements from Bayern Munich against Union Berlin
Thomas Tuchel wants his Bayern Munich team to “take it up a notch” when they face Bundesliga strugglers Union Berlin on Saturday.
Bayern are unbeaten in all 12 of their league matches this season and sit two points off leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
They face a Union side who recently hired new manager Nenad Bjelica and find themselves in the relegation zone, having lost nine of their last 10 games.
Tuchel called for a reaction from his players after Bayern’s midweek 0-0 draw with Copenhagen in the Champions League.
“They’ve changed the formation to a 4-1-4-1 (Union),” Tuchel told a press conference.
“You can’t read too much into their game (1-1 draw against Braga) because there was an early red card. We’ll also look at games involving the clubs he’s coached previously.
“We have to concentrate on ourselves and do things better. We want to take it up a notch. The main attention is on us.”
Bayern left-back Alphonso Davies has recently been linked with a move away from the Allianz Arena.
Tuchel lauded the Canada international, highlighting him as a “key player” for the German champions.
“He’s our player and an absolutely key player,” Tuchel added.
“He knows how highly we value him. For me, how long the player is under contract doesn’t change anything.
“He’s playing regularly at the highest level. I trust the management. He’s still a very young player, which we often forget. He has room for improvement in every area, but all at an extremely high level.”
Midfielder Leon Goretzka has previously featured as a centre-back and Tuchel talked up the player’s versatility.
He said: “You can’t overstate it. We moved Leon from the centre of midfield to centre-back in the final training session. He did it very well. His best position is when he can use his running strength between the boxes.
“He’s had very good performances in midfield and that’s still where we see him. Every time he’s played at centre-back, he’s played well.”
EFL leading scorer Jake Young ‘just wanted opportunity’ after Mark Hughes snub
Jake Young has outgunned Erling Haaland this season after proving his worth.
The striker – on loan at Swindon from Bradford – has 16 goals in 20 games and is the top league scorer in England.
Young is two ahead of the Manchester City goal machine after netting again in Tuesday’s 4-3 win at Accrington.
Seven goals in his last six games have fired the Robins to within a point of the Sky Bet League Two play-offs, with Young having also smashed in four against Crawley in August.
It has left the 22-year-old top of the pile and taking the extra attention in his stride.
“It’s not something I think about on the pitch but when I get off and I’ve scored another one I’ll have a little look. I’m sure Haaland isn’t looking if I’ve scored for Swindon though,” Young told the PA news agency.
“I normally look at the League Two ones first but since Haaland’s been mentioned I’ve had 10 to 20 people sending me screenshots (of the goal table).
“I think there was something on Twitter the other day and I had a lot of people sending me that one – but it’s not counting my Champions League goals!
“It’s nice but for me it’s not a shock. I know I’m capable of this. It’s definitely something I feel like I’ve worked for.
“Without trying to sound arrogant, I know I can score and play at this level. I’ve just wanted the opportunity to prove it.”
Young’s time has come after a frustrating and lonely initial spell at Bradford under Mark Hughes.
The Robins looked at a permanent deal in the summer but he could now be recalled by the Bantams in January.
It would be a dramatic return after being dumped by former boss Hughes, who was sacked in October, training with the kids, loaned to Barrow and not even joining the first team squad for the summer’s pre-season trip to Spain.
Having signed a four-year deal after joining from Forest Green in 2022 Young was frozen out despite scoring twice in three league starts.
“It was mainly one man’s opinion and that’s fine, that’s football. My view was he’s got me there, give me an opportunity to improve. That’s all I was looking for,” said the former Sheffield United youngster, who won League Two with Forest Green under Rob Edwards.
“I wasn’t looking to play every minute but when I’d been on the pitch I’d shown I could affect games to at least be an option off the bench.
“I just wanted to learn and improve and I didn’t really think I got the opportunity but football’s about opinions.
“I was 21 and to be deemed not good enough three months into a four-year deal was tough, especially when it’s somewhere I wanted to be.
“It something you’ve always wanted to do and when you find yourself not enjoying it anymore that’s the hardest part.
“It’s something I’ve learned from and I won’t take these spells I’m in now for granted because I know how hard I’ve worked physically and mentally to get here
“It’s not necessarily about proving people wrong but more proving myself right that I belong at this level and higher. This is the player I know I am.”
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