Liverpool cult hero beats up Manager in training

Mamadou Sakho, the former Liverpool defender currently plying his trade with Montpellier in Ligue 1, faces the possibility of being dismissed by the club following an altercation with his manager, Michel Der Zakarian, during a recent training session.

The incident reportedly occurred on Tuesday evening and has sent shockwaves through the club.

According to reports from L’Equipe, Sakho allegedly grabbed Der Zakarian by the collar and forcefully knocked him to the ground in front of numerous witnesses during a heated confrontation on the training ground.

The confrontation was triggered when Sakho believed he was fouled during training and was displeased when Der Zakarian did not acknowledge the foul. In response, Sakho left the training pitch.

Der Zakarian’s reaction to Sakho walking off was to inform the player that the training session was not a customizable experience, which reportedly further infuriated Sakho.

The situation escalated quickly, prompting players and staff members to intervene and prevent it from becoming more contentious.

Neither Sakho nor Der Zakarian have provided further comments on the incident to L’Equipe.

However, Sakho now faces potential severe consequences for his behavior, which may include being dismissed from the club for serious misconduct.

Sakho’s future at Montpellier has been uncertain for some time. He was informed in the summer that he was no longer part of Der Zakarian’s plans, but a transfer to another club did not materialize.

The 33-year-old French defender, who spent four years at Liverpool before joining Crystal Palace in 2017, has had a lengthy career in the Premier League.

He returned to France to sign with Montpellier in 2021 but has struggled to secure regular playing time with the Ligue 1 side.