Arne Slot hints Mohamed Salah could still have a future at Liverpool, but there's one condition: '...I'm not going to talk to him'
Mo Salah could still mend things with Liverpool manager Arne Slot, the Dutch coach has hinted. Image: Reuters
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has hinted that there still could be a way back for star Mohamed Salah to mend his relationship with the club and coach after his outburst last weekend. In a no-holds-barred interaction with the media, Salah, last week, blamed the club for "throwing him under the bus" and revealed that his relationship with Slot has broken down.
Salah’s media outburst came after he was benched for three consecutive Liverpool games. As a result, he was dropped against Inter Milan as Liverpool bounced back to winning ways in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Arne Slot leaves door open for Mohamed Salah return
While experts and fans believe Salah would be leaving the club in January, Slot has hinted that the Egyptian star footballer may still have a future at Anfield. But for that, he may have to restart the conversation with the coach.
“You say everyone makes mistakes in life, so the first thing should be, does the player think he’s made a mistake as well?” Slot said while asked about how he plans to correct things now.
“I haven’t said I’m not going to talk to him. And the next question is should the initiative come from me or from him. Now that’s another question to answer.”
When asked if he is hinting that Salah has to initiate the conversation, the Dutch coach Slot said: “I am happy that you asked that. Clarence [Seedorf] said [on the broadcast] that in his opinion and I didn’t say who should make the first step. Tonight, it should be all about the players that are here. In the rich history Liverpool has had, they have had many of these evenings.”
Slot also thanked the fans who sang his name at the end of the match against Inter at San Siro, a gesture that highlighted that the supporters are with the manager
“What it means that the fans sing for me, that means a lot,” he added. “But I said it is not about me, it is about the team. So many fans are showing their support in a difficult circumstance for the club.”
Salah signed a new two-year deal earlier this summer, which means Liverpool would only want him to depart at an acceptable price, but the latest comments from Slot could force the 33-year-old to change his stance.
Salah has scored 250 goals for Liverpool so far in a highly successful career at Anfield, where he has won two English Premier League trophies and a UEFA Champions League title.