Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has addressed the comments Mohamed Salah made, admitting the forward’s reaction caught him by surprise.
Salah lashed out at the club after being benched for the third straight game in Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Leeds. Speaking post-match, the 33-year-old said he felt the club threw him under the bus and claimed his relationship with Slot had broken down.
Despite the outburst, Salah trained on Monday. However, he did not travel with the squad for Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Inter Milan. Speaking in Italy, Arne Slot offered his side of the story.
“The only one who can answer that question is Mo himself,” Slot said when asked if the criticism was aimed at him. “I can guess, but I don’t think that’s the right thing to do at this moment.”
According to Arne Slot, Salah had remained professional.
“We let him know that he’s not travelling with us,” Slot said. “That was the only communication from us to him since Saturday.”
He added that prior to the Leeds game, the two had spoken regularly.
Sometimes longer, sometimes shorter. I didn’t feel the relationship was broken. He has the right to feel how he feels, but I didn’t sense anything. At least not until Saturday evening.
Slot also praised Salah’s conduct before the match.
When I didn’t play him, usually players don’t like the manager that much, but he was very respectful to my staff and teammates. He trained really hard.
Even so, Slot admitted the post-match comments caught him off guard.
To an extent, it was a surprise when I heard what he said. But it’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last, that a player reacts like this when not selected.
He concluded firmly, “My reaction is clear. He isn’t here tonight.”
Still, Slot didn’t shut the door on Salah’s future at the club.
“I’m a firm believer that there is always a possibility for a player to return,” he said.