As he overcomes a difficult start at Bayern Munich, Sadio Mane has admitted it’s “not easy” to adapt but insists he is still “very happy”.
Mane made the decision to leave Liverpool for Munich in the summer, arriving at Bayern in a deal worth £35.1m after six years on Merseyside.
The 30-year-old has endured a difficult run of late, with a six-game goal drought leading to scrutiny over his worth, but he ended it with a goal in Friday’s 4-0 thrashing of Bayer Leverkusen.
The win was Bayern’s first in five Bundesliga games, and Julian Nagelsmann’s side finished third in the table behind Union Berlin and Freiburg.
And speaking to UEFA.com, Mane accepted that the transition to a new club and culture “wasn’t easy”, but stressed that he is “very happy”.
“It’s going well. Changing from one club to another is not easy,” he explained.
“I spent eight very nice years in England, six years in Liverpool [after] two in Southampton, and now I’m in a new country.
“It’s not easy because everything changes so suddenly: the people, the formation, everything. Everything is changing so it is not easy at all.
“I need to adapt. She knew it and I wasn’t surprised. It is happening just as I imagined.
“The people here are welcoming and they are real players. The people at the club are incredible, so I’m very happy.”
There have been suggestions that, with Liverpool struggling for consistency so far this season, Mane’s departure has felt more than expected.
But in an interview with Sky Germany, Jurgen Klopp insisted that “everything will be fine” for both sides.
“I miss him? Yes! But I am also happy that he is where he wanted to be”, said the coach. Here we will deal with our problems.
“Sadio is an exceptional player. Everyone in Munich saw that too. He is absolutely world class. Everything will be fine.”
On Bayern’s disjointed form, which has seen them win just four of their eight league games so far, Klopp added: “It also opens a door for others.
“Why should Bayern be champions for the 11th time? It’s not bad either.
“But that has nothing to do with Sadio. Said will do it [help them] because it is world class.
