MX23RW : Tuesday, March 19 05:51:03| >> :120:13018:13018:

Mamadou Sakho: 'I would gladly stay at Crystal Palace'

Crystal Palace loanee defender Mamadou Sakho says that he is "happy" at the club and would gladly stay at Selhurst Park beyond the end of the season.

Crystal Palace defender Mamadou Sakho has spoken of his delight at seeing his January loan move to the club pay off.

The 27-year-old spent the first half of this season in the wilderness at Liverpool following a falling-out with manager Jurgen Klopp, but since joining the Eagles on loan he has quickly become an integral part of Sam Allardyce's side.

Palace have kept four clean sheets in the seven matches that Sakho has featured in so far, lifting them away from the relegation zone, and the France international insists that he is now fully focused on securing safety for his new club.

"Look, it was still a big challenge, and a very different kind of challenge. But I'm so glad I did. I get a kick out of being out on the pitch, playing football again. I am playing in front of big crowds, fans who appreciate my style of play. Ten months is a long time, but there's no secret to hitting the ground running. No magic formula," he told The Guardian.

"I never stopped training and working really hard – at Liverpool, over the summer – and I'm proud of the effort I put in. It is paying off. But you know, to talk about my future now is almost... selfish. It is not the time. My only goal is the mission I have accepted at Crystal Palace, and I'm trying to help them succeed in what they need to do. I'm part of a team, and it's the team that matters. Not my future. Not my contract. Not what happens next.

"It's all about seeing Palace safe, and we're not there yet. If I wear the Liverpool shirt again I will gladly. I have three more years of contract there. But if I have to stay at Palace, I would do that gladly too. I'm happy, I feel good here. I'm also someone who is ambitious, so I will let my agent deal with that in the summer and we'll see where we are. If my future proves to be somewhere else... well, so be it. I'll leave everything on my mother's prayers.

"Sunday will be strange. I will be there with the Palace squad but, for this game, I'm in an awkward position. I have a foot in each camp. I still belong to Liverpool, a great team with a great manager, a club I really appreciate. I had this great relationship with the Liverpool fans and the players. But I now have that same relationship with Palace and their fans. The team as well. Everything has gone so well in the last few months... maybe this should be a case of 'may the best team win'."

Sakho will be unavailable when Palace face his parent club Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

ID:296524: cacheID:296524:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3632:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
A hooded Jurgen Klopp looking shifty during the Premier League game between West Bromwich Albion and Liverpool on April 16, 2017
Read Next:
Jurgen Klopp praises Mamadou Sakho form
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014

Subscribe to our newsletter


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!