Sadio Mane insists Pep Guardiola’s comments will not change his playing style.
Guardiola claimed the Liverpool forward is ‘sometimes diving’ after he was booked in their win at Aston Villa despite a challenge by Frederic Guilbert.
Jurgen Klopp rallied to Mane’s defence over the accusations while the Manchester City manager later attempted to make a climbdown from his original remarks.
Ahead of Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash at Anfield between the sides, Mane is adamant that Guardiola’s claims are not going to alter his approach to games.
“I think it’s a bit clever from him to get the attention of the referee,” said the forward.
“But I will just play my football like I’m always doing. I don’t pay attention to what he’s saying because it’s part of football.
“It doesn’t make anything [different] for me. Even though I saw him commenting about it, what he said, for me, I think it’s positive.”
Asked whether Guardiola’s comments reflected his fear of the Premier League leaders, Mane replied: “Maybe. I don’t know. You guys know more than me.
“The only thing I can say I will be for sure ready for the team, to give everything possible, and to help my team. If it could be a penalty, for sure I will ‘dive’ again.
“If the ‘dive’ will give me a penalty then I will do it to get it back! Why not?
“But what Jurgen said is correct. I do not dive.”
Reflecting on the challenge by Guilbert last weekend, Mane concedes that the decision could have easily been given in his favour rather than against him.
“There was contact for sure,” he insisted.
“Maybe it was not a penalty and he didn’t give it, and he gave me a yellow card. To be honest I don’t have any problem about it.
“For sure it can happen in football and we have seen many people, some diving and get penalties, some got a penalty and the referee didn’t give it.
“That’s football – you have to deal with it.”