I Would Never Hurt Ederson Intentionally – Mane

Sadio Mane has said that he is prepared to call Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson to discuss the incident which led to the Liverpool forward seeing red, earning him a three-match suspension, during the 5-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium earlier this month.

Mane, who served the second game of his ban as Liverpool were sent out of the Carabao Cup in a 2-0 third-round defeat at Leicester City on Tuesday, also said that he expected a yellow card, rather than a red, for the challenge on Ederson, which left the Brazilian ‘keeper with facial injuries.

“No, but I posted something on Facebook,” Mane said. “We don’t know each other, but I would love to have his number and send him a proper message. I think it is OK now, though.

“Honestly, after this incident, I was not OK. I was thinking about the red card, obviously, but we are human beings and we have to be nice to each other.

“If I could do better to ignore [avoid] the collision, I would do my best to do so. But he also did the same. I can’t do anything now.

“I would never do this [intentionally], it is part of football. I could not do anything else, I was going to make contact. I was thinking it was a yellow card.”

But while admitting his time out has been tough, Mane insists he does not owe the team for the suspension.

“No, it is something behind me,” he said. “If I come back on the pitch, I will try to score, make chances, assists, but the suspension is part of football and I think I have forgotten about it already.

“It is not an easy time for me because I would love to play all the time and help my teammates. It’s bad, but I have to accept the suspension and wait until my comeback.

“I’m a football player and I love to play and score, to give us goals for the team. The suspension is part of football and I just have to accept it and move forward and be ready for my next game, which is coming soon.”