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Klopp: I hate this game more than you think, but what's the next decision?

author:WingSports
Klopp: I hate this game more than you think, but what's the next decision?

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admitted he was unhappy that he had to replace Sadio Mane at half-time in the Champions League win over Atletico Madrid.

Liverpool beat the Spanish champions 2-0 at Anfield on Tuesday night, ensuring safety in reaching the knockout stages.

Referee Danny Markley played a key role in the game, showing plenty of yellow cards to both teams in the first half and sending defender Felipe off.

Mane was shown a yellow card in the opening stages and Atletico Madrid's goal appeared to be the Senegalese looking to get a red card.

While he turned down those attempts and scored a second goal for Liverpool, Klopp thought his decision to replace the "incredible" striker was justified.

"Maybe everybody on the pitch wants me to do it, every reporter wants me to do it, and I think it's the right thing to do," he told BT Sports.

"I hate this game more than you think because Mane played a great game, but what's next?"

"I'm not worried that Sadio can't control his emotions, he's calm. The thing is, the ball flies into the air, you go to the header challenge and another player is knocked down. We've all seen some of the Madrid players do, in all cases, more and more tumbling, making the number of players equal again.

"I don't like it, but I think it's the right thing to do."

Speaking about Atletico's regular tactics, Klopp added: "We didn't have a chance to get to that level.

"I don't think it's good or bad. Everyone is different and you have to apply your skills.

'We have to play our football and that's what we do.'

Klopp also played for Mane at half-time in Liverpool's game against Atletico in February 2020, when Diego Simeone's side won 1-0 at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Mane was shown a yellow card in the 40th minute of the first leg of the Round of 16, with Klopp explaining that he felt Matiko would try to get him sent off.

"Tonight's plan is to get Sadio off with a second yellow card," he said at the time. "I'm afraid Mane's opponent will fall if he takes a deep breath at him or something.

"I didn't want that to happen, so I took him away."

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