Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho has dismissed claims of him being unhappy at Anfield during the reign of former boss Brendan Rodgers, despite admitting that his fortunes have changed under the management of Jurgen Klopp.
Dejan Lovren and Martin Skrtel were the preferred centre-back pairing when manager Brendan Rodgers began the season, with Mamadou Sakho finding himself on the bench. However, things changed following the sacking of the Northern Irishman, with Sakho being preferred by the German Jurgen Klopp.
Sakho refutes reports of his unhappiness
When asked if he was looking to leave due to his situation under Rodgers, Sakho was quoted as saying by RMC: “Honestly, no.
“I still feel good at Liverpool. When I was in France I didn’t gauge the real impact of this club and its history. Once you’ve set foot inside, it’s fabulous.
“The atmosphere is healthy. The team is young and talented. Honestly, I really like it in this city, with its supporters and magnificent stadium. I’m someone who likes stability — it suits me perfectly.”
Sakho reveals Klopp’s closeness to the squad
Sakho’s German boss Jurgen Klopp is known to share a close bond with his fans, players and the club staff from his former tenure in Borussia Dortmund. Claiming that he remains just as close with his players at Anfield, Sakho was quoted as saying about Klopp: “He’s very genuine. When you see him you think he’s very expressive but, like he said to us from the start, it’s not really to be nasty with us. On the contrary, it’s to encourage us.”
Sakho has been called up to the French national team for the first time this season, having initially lost his place in the squad. He has proven to be the standout defender in the Liverpool team that is otherwise full of error-prone defenders. His leadership and solid defence will be useful for France, if the defender manages to overcome his injury problems.
