Klopp discuss reason behind Mane substitution against Atletico

Sadio Mane was substituted at half-time against Atletico Madrid, and Jurgen Klopp explained why in his post-match press conference.

He said: "Probably everybody in the stadium expected I would do it, each journalist expected I would do it and I thought it was the right thing to do.

"I hated it more than you can imagine because Sadio played an incredible game, but then what's the decision? I was not worried that Sadio cannot handle his emotions, he was calm.

"The thing is, the ball comes in the air, you go in for a heading challenge and the other player is going down... we all saw what some Madrid players did, rolling over more and more in all the situations to equal the number of players again.

"I didn't like it, but I think it was the right thing to do."

Mane was already on a yellow card and the Atletico players made a proper effort to try and get the Senegalese sent off after they went down to 10 men.

Klopp's substitution may have irritated the winger, who was looking sharp, but it was the correct move in hindsight.

Source: liverpoolfc.com