Sadio Mane clinches Standard Chartered POTM award for August
Sadio Mane was today rewarded for his excellent start to his Liverpool career by being named the first Standard Chartered Player of the Month for 2016-17.
The Senegal forward, a summer signing from Southampton, clinched the season’s inaugural accolade for August after getting his Reds career off to a flyer.
Mane made three competitive appearances during the month, beginning it with a stunning display and a Goal of the Season contender during the 4-3 victory at Arsenal on the opening weekend of the Premier League campaign.
He followed that up with further livewire performances against Burton Albion and Tottenham Hotspur to collect 77 per cent of the fans’ vote in a poll on this website – some distance ahead of second-placed Philippe Coutinho, who picked up 11 per cent of the final total.
Upon receiving his award at Melwood, Mane told Liverpoolfc.com: “It means a lot. I have been working every day – every day in training and in the games – to give my best for the team.
“We have a great team with many qualities. Now we have to work to make the fans happy. We’re going to take it game by game and try to win as many as we can.
“I want to thank everybody for this, especially the fans who voted for me, and I am very happy to win it.
“But it deserves to go to the whole team because without them, I would be nothing, so I want to thank them. We will try to give our best for the fans and to win games for them.”
Mane has made a seamless beginning to his new career with Liverpool after swapping Southampton for Merseyside in June.
The 24-year-old attributes the speed with which he has settled in to his teammates and the coaching staff at the club – and believes he still has more to offer.
“It’s not down to me – it’s my teammates, the coach and staff,” Mane said. “They have tried to help me every day. I want to thank everybody for that. I don’t think I have had any problems, so I am happy to come in and integrate quickly.
“I am trying to do what I can, but I am convinced in myself that I can do more. That means training hard every day, concentration, taking pleasure on the pitch and by giving your best, always.”