INTELLECT, INSTINCTS AND INSENSITIVE FOOTBALL ANALYSTS

It's the most prestigious club football competition in Europe, and probably the most popular in the world. An ugly blot from one football analyst, however, threatens to ruin this beautiful game. His insights on the performance of one player from Africa were insensitive and offensive. The intellect of professional football players shouldn't be so doubted.

In a Pay TV channel, Tim Sherwood made a controversial observation about the abilities of Senegalese sensation, Sadio Mane.

In the first-leg semis tie between Liverpool and Roma, Mane missed a number of great chances to score.

He did eventually grab a goal in Liverpool's huge but still precarious win.

Sherwood offered to explain the instances when Mane is likely to score, and when that could prove to be impossible.

He argued that the Senegalese finds it hard to convert chances that require 'thinking' and easily scores those that require an instinctive reaction.

So, it all boils down to thinking and instincts!

And Sherwood is of the opinion that Mane relies more on instincts than intellect.

Which makes Mane a what...animal?

Maybe Mane's attacking threat could be more portent, when he reacts in an intuitive way.

But given where he has reached, we shouldn't reduce him to a non-thinking footballer, or disparage his mental abilities.

That is an affront against this great talent from Africa.