Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has spoken about Mohamed Salah, who was not involved in Tuesday night’s win over Inter Milan.
Manager Jurgen Klopp has described Mohamed Salah as a “super special person”, even as the future of Liverpool’s star player remains uncertain. The 33-year-old was not included in the Reds’ matchday squad for Tuesday night’s Champions League victory over Inter Milan.
Manager Arne Slott confirmed before the match that Salah would not feature following his controversial post-match comments at the weekend. The Liverpool talisman sat on the bench as an unused substitute during the club’s 3-3 draw with Leeds United after being on the bench for three games in a row.
In the aftermath, Salah claimed he felt unfairly blamed for the team’s poor performance, saying he had been “thrown under the bus”. The player said his relationship with Slott had deteriorated and suggested this weekend’s match against Brighton could be his final game for the club. Salah is scheduled to represent Egypt at the African Cup of Nations before the January transfer window opens.
It’s a dramatic change from Salah, who led Liverpool to their second Premier League title last season and was praised for his 29 league goals. His current record stands at 5 goals in 19 appearances in all competitions. But former Liverpool manager Klopp has explained why the Reds could potentially regret parting ways with Salah.
Speaking in the newly released BBC documentary Mo Salah: Never Give Up, Klopp said: “When I arrived we had the players who were there, but we were looking for a winger with speed. When you have a player with speed, technique, finishing skills and an eye for scoring goals, that makes him very special.”
read more: Arne Slott and Virgil van Dijk talk about Mo Salah’s ‘reality’ after apology questionread more: Mohamed Salah talks about Liverpool’s favorites and their future and hints at what’s next
Salah, who joined from Roma in 2017, made 349 appearances under Klopp, scoring 211 goals. He was an important player for the German manager, leading the club to Champions League and Premier League glory.
However, there was an argument between Klopp and Salah towards the end of their terms. The winger was named as a substitute in an away game to West Ham in April 2024, and after watching the Hammers equalize, the pair got into an argument on the touchline while waiting for him to come on.
“I wouldn’t say Mo is easy to manage, but he’s not difficult to manage,” Klopp said in a BBC documentary. “If Mo Salah is not playing then there is a problem and when Mo Salah is taken out there is a problem.”
Klopp may have been able to predict how Salah would react if he was dropped into the slot, but explained that Salah’s mindset is what sets him apart from other players. The former Liverpool manager recalled how the Egyptian international used his downtime every summer to improve his game, before attending pre-season training with newly perfected skills.
“He knew early on that he had to do more,” Klopp said. “That’s why Chelsea was probably the most important club where he wanted to say, ‘Okay, I thought I was good enough, but now I’m showing that I’m not good enough, so just train a little harder and come back and you’ll be good enough.’
Klopp added: “He never stops. That’s his mindset and he will be remembered as one of the greatest players of all time.”
“I think tonight should be all about playing against a team like this, against a winning team like this, against a stadium like this,” Slott said when asked about Salah after Liverpool’s win over Inter.
“That should be the focus tonight. I totally understand if you go to a press conference on Friday and all the questions are about Mo, but I think these players deserve to be talked about tonight.”
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