Liverpool manager Arne Slot has said he has no idea whether Mohamed Salah will play for the club again after the Egyptian forward’s outspoken comments sparked a call for him to be left out of the squad for Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Inter Milan.
Salah, 33, was left out of the 19-man traveling squad to face Inter after claiming he had been “thrown under the bus” by the club in a harsh interview he gave on Sunday.
He also stated that he no longer has a relationship with Dutch coach Slot and that “someone” does not want him at the club for whom he scored 250 goals, won two Premier League titles and the Champions League during eight memorable years at Anfield.
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Mohamed Salah z Liverpoolu.
Asked if Salah would play for the club again, Slot said during his pre-match press conference: “I have no idea. I can’t answer that at the moment.”
Slot dealt with questions about the Salah saga for ten minutes and admitted he was surprised by his comments after being an unused substitute against Leeds United on Sunday.
“It was somewhat of a surprise for me when I heard the comments he made after the game,” Slot told reporters.
“But I think our, my reaction to that is also clear, and that’s why he’s not here with us tonight.”
Asked if he felt Salah’s outburst was aimed at him, Slot said:
“The only one who can answer that question is Mo himself. I can guess, but I don’t think it’s the right thing to do at this point. So it’s hard for me to tell who he’s referring to, honestly.”
Arne Slot reacts after the team’s loss.
SALAH IS NOT TRAVELING TO MILAN
Salah trained with the squad on Wednesday, with Slot watching, but was told he would not be making the trip to Italy.
“We told him he wasn’t traveling with us, so that was the only communication there was with him,” Slot said, adding that Salah’s reaction was “short”.
Salah’s form has come in for criticism this season and he was left on the bench for yesterday’s 2-0 win over West Ham United.
He came on in the game against Sunderland, but was again left on the bench against Leeds, which moved Liverpool up to ninth place.
During his outburst, Salah said he felt like a victim of Liverpool’s problems.
“He has a right to feel what he feels, but he doesn’t have a right to share it with the media. He has a right, but then it’s up to us to respond to that,” Slot said.
“I think I’m usually calm and decent, but that doesn’t mean I’m weak. So when a player makes comments like that about so many things, it’s up to me, us as a club to react and we’ve reacted in the way you see now.”
Slott led Liverpool to the title in his first season but has faced criticism this season and the situation surrounding Salah only adds to the pressure he faces.
“I don’t feel like my authority is being undermined,” he said.
“I’m still important in this situation to some extent, but right now I’m completely focused on the team and not at all on myself.”
Liverpool are 13th in the Champions League table with nine points from five matches, while Inter are fourth with twelve points.
England legend Wayne Rooney has urged Slot to include Salah in his Champions League squad.
“He (Salah) is literally destroying his legacy at Liverpool. It would be sad if he threw it all away. He did it all wrong.”
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was even sharper.
“I thought it was a shame. Before he came to Liverpool, Mo Salah was known as a guy who failed at Chelsea,” Carragher said.
