Diouf praises Liverpool star without insulting Gerrard
El Hadji Diouf has somehow managed to discuss Liverpool without insulting Steven Gerrard.
Diouf spoke highly of compatriot Sadio Mane, whose start to life at Anfield has been excellent after his move from Southampton for more than £30million this summer.
A controversial figure in the recent history of Liverpool, Diouf has previously proved himself incapable of talking about Liverpool without calling former captain Gerrard “jealous“, saying that he “killed” the club, or even calling Jamie Carragher a “d*ckhead“.
But the retired 35-year-old, speaking to Liberation in Senegal, managed to praise Mane without even referring to his former teammate.
“Mané is a good player,” he said. “Someone with talent, but the league has just started and he needs time to settle in, especially to get to know his new teammates, because there are a fair few games to come.
“We need to see how he reacts when injury hits or a drop in form happens.
“Football wise, I can’t say anything. Sadio is a very good player, I believe in him and I know he has the qualities to be a leader in the national team.”
