Tottenham Hotspur defender Japhet Tanganga has claimed that Liverpool’s Sadio Mane is the toughest opponent he has faced, on Spurs’ official Twitch channel.
Tanganga was really thrown in at the deep end in 2020 against Liverpool, when he was given his Tottenham debut against Jurgen Klopp’s side.
The young defender actually coped well on that occasion, despite Spurs falling to a 1-0 defeat.
And Tanganga says that Mane remains one of the best players he has ever played against.
“I would probably say Mane,” Tanganga said, when asked for his most difficult ever opponent. “He was a very tough opponent. He made sure I had more than just my A-game on, I found energy I never thought I had. Honestly, he really worked me. That’s one of the toughest opponents I’ve faced.”
Mane’s standards have actually dipped slightly since when he was in brilliant form during the season where Tanganga faced him.
As a result the Senegalese international was actually dropped last night, as Liverpool beat Manchester United 4-2.
Tanganga also had kind words for Ismaila Sarr of Watford, when he expanded on the question.
“I would also say Sarr of Watford,” he added. “He was a very tough opponent. He was relentless and so direct. It was hard as well because I was on a yellow card early on and you just cannot get a red carded. He was so sharp and direct. You knew what he wanted to do but he would always do it and get a cross in.
Interestingly Sarr was a player who was heavily linked with a move to Liverpool last summer.
Goal.com say that the Reds wanted the wide-man but ultimately could not complete the transfer and moved for Diogo Jota instead.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
