SATURDAY, MAY 15, 2021 11 Klopp plans Mane talks No final decision after Liverpool star’s snub yet on Taulava Juergen Klopp said there was no conflict between himself and striker Sadio Mane

• Sadio Mane was replaced by Diogo Jota BETTER in Liverpool’s only change for the match against Man Utd KNOW

AFP | London Klopp suggested iverpool boss Jurgen immediately after the Klopp says he will speak match that his late Lto Sadio Mane after the decision to start Jota Senegal forward snubbed him may have prompted following Thursday’s 4-2 win at Mane’s reaction. The Manchester United. move paid off as Jota Klopp left Mane on the bench for the first 74 minutes of the scored Liverpool’s crucial Premier League clash, equaliser, sparking deciding to start Diogo Jota in- their first win over stead. their arch-rivals at Old Taulava is just waiting for management’s decision Following Mane’s brief sub- Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp speaks with Sadio Mane during a match Trafford since 2014 TDT | Manila stitute appearance, Klopp ap- proached him at the final whis- “The world is in a situation since 2014. who are four points behind with he future of Asi “Ageless tle to celebrate a crucial victory when you make this one time The Liverpool boss does not a game in hand. TRock” Taulava – now at in the race to qualify for the bigger than necessary. That’s expect any lingering fall-out With Chelsea playing third- 48 and the oldest active player Everything depends Champions League. unfortunately the case. from the incident as Liverpool placed Leicester next week, Liv- in the Philippine Basketball on management. I’m But Mane refused to respond “If you had seen me as a play- try to secure a top four-finish in erpool will be almost certain Association (PBA) – remains happy just being on to the German and was caught er what I did out of emotion it the Premier League. of a top-four finish if they win up in the air. the team whatever on television walking towards was insane -- and I’m a com - “Do you want these things to their last three games against But to keep himself in shape, they ask me to do the tunnel while shaking his pletely normal guy, but it hap- happen? No,” he said. “But it’s West Brom, Burnley and Crystal the 6-foot-9 giant continues to head. pened to me. not the first time in my life and Palace. train with his current ballclub, ASI TAULAVA Speaking ahead of Sunday’s “We will talk about it, then it I’m afraid to say it won’t be the “Most of the time I’ve been in NLEX Road Warriors, despite trip to West Bromwich Albion, will be sorted. That’s all.” last time.” a chasing role so if I’m enjoying management’s failure to offer Guiao already has 21 play- Klopp said he was not angry Klopp suggested immediate- After failing to defend the it, I don’t know,” said Klopp. him a new contract until now. ers on his roster. However, with Mane but would speak to ly after the match that his late Premier League title, Liverpool “Sometimes yes, but I’m used The management has kept the only legitimate big men he the 29-year-old about the show decision to start Jota may have are trying to salvage a troubled to it. mum about the status of the has now are 6-foot-9 Maurice of dissent. prompted Mane’s reaction. season with Champions League “Usually, when I’m involved, 21-year veteran slotman with Shaw, 6-foot-6 JR Quinahan, “If somebody shows me five The move paid off as Jota qualification. seasons go to the wire. Playing the team since talks of a pos- 6-foot-6 Michael Miranda, and million times respect and one scored Liverpool’s equaliser, Fourth-placed Chelsea’s loss Thursday, Sunday, Wednesday, sible retirement loomed in 6-foot-6 Raul Soyud. time not, what is then more im- sparking their first win over to Arsenal on Wednesday has Sunday is a tough one, but let’s the Road Warriors’ last game And so he remains undecid- portant?” Klopp said on Friday. their arch-rivals at Old Trafford opened the door for the Reds, give it a try.” in the Philippine Cup bubble ed on whether to sign Taulava against Terrafirma last year. up as a player. The former Most Valuable “Although we already talked Player (MVP) himself has not to Asi, he is saying that he is Suspended Neymar decided yet whether to retire going to be there just in case Mangrobang to give best shot for Olympic slot or still extend his decorated we change our mind or if we TDT | Manila to miss French Cup PBA career that has spanned need a big body. He is going to final for PSG for more than two decades. be ready,” he said. im Mangrobang – the Phil- According to Road Warriors “It’s like we are keeping him Kippines’ brightest hopes in head coach Yeng Guiao, Taula- in our back pocket. If we want triathlon – is chasing her child- va has never missed training in to look for a match-up with hood dream to qualify for the UP Epsilon Chi Center and is in June Mar Fajardo or a Greg Tokyo Olympics. fact in tip-top shape. Slaughter, then he can still be The 29-year-old, two-time “With regards to Asi, he is an option.” Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) still practicing and looks to If not, Guiao disclosed that champion will compete in a be in good shape. He is still NLEX will still be Taulava’s string of tournaments that practicing religiously,” said the home, but with a different role. could propel her to the coming PSG’s Neymar (R) fights for the ball champion mentor. “We already talked to him Olympics. with Montpellier’s Teji Savanier (L) After NLEX’s last game in the with regards to a new role On May 22-23, she will race PBA bubble back on November waiting for him. It seems Asi AFP | Paris in the World Triathlon Cup in 11 last year, Taulava had said is not ready to retire yet. We’ll Lisbon, Portugal before moving Mangrobang is eager to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics that he was leaving his fate to see,” said Guiao. to Italy on May 29-30 for the Olympic aspirants from Brazil eymar will not play for management. Taulava started There are talks that if ever Arzachena World Cup. and Norway. NParis Saint-Germain his PBA career in 1999. Taulava retires, NLEX will She will also participate in The pandemic, however, in next week’s French Cup He only played three games make him its brand ambassa- the ITU World Cup in Huatulco, Her training in Portugal shattered her calendar as she final against Monaco after during the 2020 PBA Philip- dor and will be doing cage clin- Mexico on June 12-13 and try only managed to see action in a booking in Wednesday’s pine Cup averaging 4.33 points ics around the country once her luck in qualifying races in was really intense and two competitions last year. semi-final saw the Brazilian and 2.0 rebounds per game. the pandemic is over. Northern Africa and Southern she prepared well for Mangrobang is now the high- incur a suspension. Europe as well. the Olympic qualifying est ranked Filipino triathlete, The world’s most expen- Mangrobang underwent an races male or female, in the Inter- sive player was shown a extensive two-month training TOM CARRASCO, TRIATHLON ASSOCIATION OF national Triathlon Union, the yellow card not long after in a high-performance facility THE PHILIPPINES PRESIDENT sport’s world governing body. coming on as a late substi- in Portugal from March to April After an impressive finish tute in the last-four tie in to give it her best shot in a series Though Mangrobang is at in the 30th Southeast Asian Montpellier, triggering a of Olympic qualification races. No. 192 in the Olympic rank- Games, she immediately flew one-game ban that had been The Filipino triathlete is en- ings, a maximum of only three to Portugal to train under the hanging over him since tered in the women’s elite of triathletes per country will be watchful eyes of Santos. he was sent off in a Ligue the 1.5kilometer swim-40km allowed to suit up at the starting The Portuguese has been 1 match against Lille last bike-10km run contest against line in Tokyo. Some countries coaching Mangrobang since month. the finest in the world. have five to 10 triathletes in the 2014, when he was invited by PSG could still appeal the “Her training in Portugal was top 100 of the women’s elite. Carrasco to look at the coun- ban, thereby potentially re- really intense and she prepared “Kim’s performances in the try’s national athlete. leasing him to play against well for the Olympic qualifying qualifying races would weigh a Mangrobang has been do - Monaco in the final at the races,’’ said Triathlon Associ- lot. She’s healthy and I’m quite ing triathlons since she was 12. Stade de France, which ation of the Philippines presi- optimistic of her chances,’’ said After lingering in the shadows will go ahead behind closed dent Tom Carrasco. Carrasco. of her friend Monica Torres, doors. With four to five races on her Mangrobang trained under one-time queen of Philippine Neymar scored in the schedule, Mangrobang should the tutelage of renowned Por- triathlon, and Claire Adorna, shoot-out as PSG beat Mont- penetrate the top 55 list of qual- tuguese coach Sergio Santos the SEA Games gold medallist pellier 6-5 on penalties fol- ifiers prior to the Olympic cut- at the famed Desmor Sports in 2015, she is now the highest lowing a 2-2 draw in the off next month. Center in Rio Maior with other ranked Filipino triathlete. semi-finals.