Atlético Madrid defender Santiago Arias says he is ready to give his all to stop Liverpool’s Sadio Mané.
Liverpool return to the Wanda Metropolitano, where they won their sixth European crown in May, to take on Atlético in the first leg of their last 16 clash this evening.
Mané is likely to be a starter once again, having become a key player and one of the first names on the teamsheet under Jürgen Klopp in recent years.
Indeed that proved to be the case once again over the weekend as he came off the bench in the second half to score the winner against Norwich City.
Stopping the Senegalese forward is proving to be a difficult task these days, but Arias says he is ready to give his utmost to do so.
“He (Mané) is a complicated player,” he told AS.
“I don’t know if I will play or not, but if I have the opportunity, I want to do it as always, giving all of myself to contribute to the team.
“I already had the opportunity to play against Mané in the World Cup, we were in the same group, and I know the qualities he has, how good he is and how complicated the match is going to be.
“But we have the team and players to deal with the match.”
Coming up against Liverpool is something most clubs want to avoid at present, with Klopp’s side turning into an unstoppable machine this season.
Currently top of the Premier League by 25 points, unbeaten all season and now free of injuries, there seems to be little to stop their relentless march.
It’s enough to give most clubs, and players, sleepless nights but Arias insists that he and his teammates have no fear heading into the game.
“Respect is what we have,” he said.
“There’s no fear here, there’s no reason to lose sleep. We respect our opponents, and I think they respect us too.
“They know that Atleti is a difficult team, a tough one that is going to go for the victory and it’s going to be nice for both of us.”
Given their current place at the top of the Premier League and run of form, Liverpool naturally come into tonight’s game as clear favourites.
That is something that has only been strengthened by Atlético’s poor form, with Diego Simeone’s side currently fourth in La Liga and 13 points behind leaders Real Madrid.
The Champions League can often do away with such things, though, and Arias insists that Liverpool being the favourites only plays into his side’s hands.
“It’s always better for the other team to be favourites,” he added.
“I think we, with humility and working as a team, can get things done.
“It’s not going to be easy, a complicated game against a very strong rival, who has achieved great things, and we are at full capacity, we have commitment and attitude.”
