- Liverpool beat Porto 5-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday night
- Sadio Mane scored three goals as Reds all but secured a place in the last-eight
- The Senegal international has endured a roller-coaster campaign
- He admits his sending off against Manchester City impacted on him negatively
Liverpool forward Sadio Mane believes his season is back on track after a Champions League hat-trick.
The Senegal international has endured a roller-coaster campaign and admits his sending-off in September’s 5-0 defeat to Manchester City when he was harshly punished in a one-on-one clash with goalkeeper Ederson had impacted on him negatively.
Following his three-match suspension Mane sustained a hamstring injury and looked short of confidence for several weeks, even if he did pop up with spectacular goals against Burnley and in the return against City.
Sadio Mane believes his season is back on track after a Champions League hat-trick
Mane scores his third goal during Wednesday’s 5-0 Champions League victory over Porto
Asked whether his red card had affected him he said: ‘Yeah, it was not my wish but it happened.
‘It was tough on me but it is part of football and can happen. I never doubted how I could help the team and I never stopped working hard every day in training.
‘I always tried to remain balanced, even when it was not working, because it is my job and I have to do it.
‘I don’t know how to describe it but it can happen to every single player and in my mind I was relaxed that it will change.’
The Senegal international receives the match ball from Virgil van Dijk following the victory