Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has warned Mamadou Sakho he will have a difficult task to regain his place after a troubled few months. France centre-back Sakho missed the final weeks of Liverpool’s season and then Euro 2016 after being given a provisional 30-day suspension for a failed drugs test in April.
That ban was not extended but Sakho’s problems weren’t over as he was sent home from Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the United States due to his poor attitude. Klopp told Sakho to go out on loan to show he was prepared to work to win back his place, but the 26-year-old turned down moves to Stoke, West Bromwich Albion and Besiktas before the August 31 transfer deadline.
While Klopp insists he still trusts Sakho, the defender’s attempt to rehabilitate his reputation may take some time. “He couldn’t play football for a long time. It makes sense after a long break you think about how you can get match time and that is difficult here because the other players are fit and hopefully stay fit,” Klopp said yesterday.
“I spoke to him before the window closed because that is the moment to make decisions and that is what I did. Not only with Mama but with all the players I told them all what I thought would be best and now the squad is like it is. It is not a problem. He doesn’t have to gain my trust.”
Sakho had impressed Klopp before his difficult end to last season, but with Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan now ahead of him in the defensive pecking order it will be tough to get back in the team.
“I am not silly enough to forget good performances but in the end we will see what happens,” Klopp said. “Now it is about making Mama fit — what he isn’t after this long time with suspension and injury — and we will see what happens.”