Liverpool manager insists he remains in charge after Salah’s explosive interview
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has asserted his position following Mohamed Salah’s controversial weekend interview, in which the Egyptian forward claimed their working relationship had completely unraveled, reports BritPanorama.
Addressing the issue in Milan on Monday, ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League match against Inter, Slot expressed surprise at Salah’s statements. “It was a surprise to me when I heard he gave the comments he gave,” Slot remarked.
The 33-year-old winger was excluded from the squad for the European clash after alleging that Liverpool had “thrown him under the bus.” This absence raises questions about his future at Anfield.
Slot was keen to distance himself from any implication that his calm demeanor reflected weakness. “Usually I am calm and polite, but that doesn’t mean I am weak,” he emphasized.
Since Salah’s outburst, the manager disclosed that their only communication had been to inform the player of his omission from the trip to Italy. When asked about the nature of that conversation, Slot replied succinctly: “A short one.”
Uncertainty looms over whether Salah has played his last game for Liverpool; “I have no clue, I cannot answer that question at this point in time,” Slot admitted, though he did not rule out a return for the player.
Slot stated that any decision regarding Salah’s participation in Saturday’s Premier League match against Brighton would be made after the Inter fixture. He explained that Salah’s absence in recent matches came down to Liverpool’s struggles in defense, necessitating tactical changes.
Before the interview that shocked the club, Slot noted Salah had behaved professionally during training. “He was very respectful and has trained really hard before the weekend,” he pointed out. However, he differentiated between private grievances and public outspokenness, asserting, “He has the right to feel the way he does, but he does not have the right to share it with the media.”
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker offered a more conciliatory view, expressing his hope that Salah would return to the team. “I hope he plays again for the club,” Alisson said, acknowledging differing opinions within the squad about the situation. “All the players are going to have different thoughts about the situation and that’s OK,” he reiterated, emphasizing the aim for a mutually beneficial resolution.
As Salah prepares to depart for Africa Cup of Nations duty next Monday, the fallout from his remarks underscores the complexities of maintaining squad harmony amid high-stakes competition.
