This summer, superstar Mohamed Salah was very vocal about his relationship with Liverpool’s new manager Arne Slot being in tatters. This announcement has resulted in much fanfare and jubilation from purists, fans and sports analysts. If only Salah had been benched for the past three matches. This includes the recent Champions League fixture against Inter Milan that led to this epiphany. In doing so, Salah dropped an unexpected hint of his future. Anderson hinted that his upcoming match against Brighton would be the last time he plays in a Liverpool shirt.
Arne Slot, the manager who’s been steering the Reds’ ship in the choppy seas that have beset Liverpool this season, was taken by surprise at Salah’s assertions. He said he didn’t think their relationship had soured until he listened to Salah’s dismal assessment in a recent NPR interview. Salah’s current situation has led to speculation about his future at the club. This is especially true as he prepares to represent Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) starting December 15.
Benched and Silent
That Jordan Henderson replaced Salah in Wednesday’s squad against Inter Milan has further stoked speculation over the Egyptian’s place in Klopp’s plans. His usage as a substitute in important Liverpool matches lately has drawn the ire of supporters and analysts alike. The embattled star forward remained silent throughout much of the season. There’s his recent outburst about Slot, which has added new, and perhaps insurmountable, icing to the cake.
Slot will assess Salah’s status ahead of the Brighton game, making a decision on whether he will feature based on the team’s performance against Inter. “I have no clue, I cannot answer that question in this moment in time,” Slot stated regarding Salah’s potential future with the team.
The repercussions of Salah’s comments have drawn sharp criticism from former player Jamie Carragher, who labeled Salah’s interview as “a disgrace.” Carragher would like to think that Salah hasn’t played his last game for Liverpool. He is, and Jurgen shows just how important Salah is to the club and their die hard supporters.
“He’s chosen this weekend to do this now and he’s waited, I think, for a bad result for Liverpool.” – skysports.com
The Future of Mohamed Salah
The storm clouds of uncertainty concerning Salah’s future at Liverpool are visible from space. He’s not just a star player, he’s one of the greatest footballers in the history of Egypt. With that in mind, many fans are right to be worried that his last comments and actions may mark a final exit from the club.
As Salah heads to AFCON, his missing of such important matches makes it more ambiguous what his current commitment level to Liverpool is. Carragher’s main observation was that although Salah is as talented as they come, he needs to keep in mind that football is a team game. “You need help from your teammates, your manager, and fans,” Carragher remarked.
Most of the criticism claims that Salah should be more focused on team success than personal awards. Carragher praised Salah’s sensational solo effort. What he did underscore is that having camaraderie and cooperation among teammates is critical and can’t go by the wayside.
“That is not me trying to put Mo Salah down as a player. I’ve just said he’s one of the best players in the world in the last eight years, very few better.” – skysports.com
Reactions from Arne Slot
Considering the nature of these developments, Arne Slot has been calm and transparent throughout this process. Yet the aggressive stance comes as a surprise to Sasha. The Villa boss didn’t entirely close the door on the attacker’s return should circumstances change.
Even through the public fallout, Slot continued to stress that relationships in football can be messy and sometimes just need time and space to heal. On the positive side, he promised to make team first, player second decisions going forward.
During a break, Slot told us he was shocked by Mohamed’s comments, but this was an industry that largely seemed oblivious to the past. Liverpool have big fixtures coming up in league, FA Cup and the Champions League. In this tumultuous time, Slot will have to overcome the pressures while pushing for success on the pitch.
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