Mane looking forward to Barca challenge

Sadio Mane

Wednesday May 01, 2019. 13:00

Senegal international Sadio Mane is looking forward to the challenge of facing Barcelona in the Uefa Champions League semifinals.

Liverpool are away at Camp Nou on Wednesday evening before the reverse fixture at Anfield next week.

Having faced Barca's Spanish rivals Real Madrid in last year's final, Mane - who scored in the 3-1 defeat - has a reference point and the attacker hopes to draw from the experience as the Reds eye back-to-back final appearances.

"I think it was a really, really good experience because it was the first time for each of our players to play a final," Mane said at the pre-match press conference.

"Of course we would have loved to win, but we faced one of the best teams in the world and they deserved to win. Let's go and use this experience for tomorrow [Wednesday] night and try to get the positive result here.

Mane also talked about coming up against former teammate Philippe Coutinho, with the midfielder having left Merseyside for Barcelona last year.

The 27-year-old continued: "Great, great player and I'm a little bit jealous that Barcelona get him. But it's part of football and we are happy for him. I think he really enjoyed playing alongside his teammates and he's giving everything.

"He's still young and for sure he will improve a lot because I know him - he's a hard worker. Hopefully tomorrow he will still be in the bed when we play!"