‘This is a dream game’: Boyhood Manchester United fan and Genk striker Samatta is relishing the chance to play United’s rivals Liverpool in the Champions League
- Genk striker Ally Mbwana Samatta grew up as a boyhood Manchester United fan
- He will face United’s rivals Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday
- Samatta said it will be a ‘dream game’ but tough for Genk, who are yet to win
- Genk coach Felice Mazzu believes Liverpool are the best team in Europe
Genk striker Ally Mbwana Samatta grew up as a boyhood Manchester United fan and he hopes to take inspiration from their performance against Liverpool at Old Trafford as the Champions League winners roll into town.
The 26-year-old was born and raised in Tanzania, from where he followed English football, but it was the red of Manchester and not Merseyside which caught his eye.
As he prepares to go up against the defending champions in what he calls a ‘dream’ game he hopes he can delight the thousands of fans watching back home.
Genk striker Ally Mbwana Samatta is a boyhood Manchester United fan born in Tanzania
Samatta (left) says facing United’s rivals Liverpool in the Champions League is a ‘dream game’
‘When I was a kid I used to support a Manchester United but we are not talking about Manchester United right now, we are talking about Liverpool,’ he admitted.
‘We believe Liverpool are a strong team now in the Premier League and European competition and we expect a tough game. We will try to break them down.
‘We are playing in front of our own supporters so we want to be happy at the end of the game. We will do our best.
‘I think it is a dream game. When you play football you dream about these kind of games.
‘As a kid you watched these kind of games but now you are on the pitch playing the game.
‘Everyone (in Tanzania) is talking about the game tomorrow, talking about Ally and (Virgil) Van Dijk, saying I have to do something against him, go past him, dribble.
Samatta admits he has a tough test ahead of him trying to get past Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk
‘I think a lot of them will watch the game tomorrow.’
Coach Felice Mazzu believes his side are facing the best team in Europe on Wednesday but he remains undaunted by the prospect.
The Belgium club have yet to register a win in the tournament in 14 attempts and Mazzu admits it will be a tough task.
‘When a team like Liverpool take 25 points from 27 and they play like they play I think they are one of the best teams in Europe, probably the best,’ he said.
‘Klopp makes Liverpool dangerous. We know they score easily with three, four or five strikers with a lot of speed.
‘They have a lot of players with maturity, they have a high press and like to play at one end of the pitch. We must be attentive.’
Genk coach Felice Mazzu believes ‘dangerous’ Liverpool are the best team in Europe
