Boulaye Dia recalls conversation with Sadio Mane after Villarreal’s Champions League exit

Rennes striker Boulaye Dia has recalled his conversation with compatriot Sadio Mane following Villarreal’s dramatic elimination by Liverpool in the 2022 UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

Speaking to Flashscore, the Senegalese forward reflected on the encounter after Villarreal surrendered a two-goal half-time lead to lose 3-2 in the second leg, with Liverpool advancing 5-2 on aggregate. Dia had opened the scoring in the third minute before Francis Coquelin doubled Villarreal’s advantage just before the interval.

Dia revealed that he spoke to Mané after the tie, with the Liverpool forward among those who helped end Villarreal’s hopes of reaching the final.

“I don’t remember exactly, but he congratulated me on our run. We were 2-0 up at half-time and I asked him whether they had been worried. They already had the experience of the 2019 final. So I just told him to go and win it, since they had eliminated us.”

Liverpool ultimately reached the final in Paris, where they lost 1-0 to Real Madrid. Mané left Liverpool later that summer after helping the club reach its third Champions League final in five seasons.

Dia’s recollection offers a glimpse into the relationship between the two Senegalese internationals following one of the most memorable European comebacks of the 2021/22 campaign.