Image Credits: Imago Images
Mohamed Salah arrived at the latest international break with noise around him. It has been a tense period at Liverpool. Minutes have been limited. Questions have followed. A post-match interview added fuel to the situation. Salah’s frustration was clear, and it landed during a demanding Premier League run under a new manager.
From a Liverpool point of view, this matters. Salah remains the club’s biggest attacking figure. His form, mood, and rhythm affect the whole team. The timing is also important. Africa Cup of Nations is approaching, and the competition carries heavy weight for both player and country. AFCON is not just another tournament. It defines legacies. For Egypt, it is the stage where leaders are expected to step forward.
Salah’s recent bench appearances, including being an unused substitute in the 3-3 draw with Leeds, raised eyebrows. The relationship between player and coach became a talking point. That context followed him into the Egypt camp. It is there that his national team manager chose to address the situation directly.
Hossam Hassan made it clear that he sees no crisis. “There was constant communication with Mohamed Salah during what I don’t want to call an ‘crisis’, because any player can have a difference of opinion with his coach at his club.” He stressed his relationship with the Liverpool forward. “Communication between me and Salah has always been open.” Hassan added, “When he joined the Egypt national team camp, I felt that he has very big ambition.”
The Egypt coach pointed to history. “The same situation happened with Salah at the beginning of my previous spells with the national team, when he went through a period of not scoring goals with Liverpool.” He explained the pattern. “Then he returned to the right path through the national team, because here he finds himself together with the players and the technical staff.”
Hassan believes this can lift Salah again. “As a result he comes back at a level even better than before.” He backed him for AFCON. “I believe Salah will be among the best players at AFCON, and he will remain an icon and one of the best players in the world.” He added, “I support him technically and morally, because we cannot forget that Salah needs to win the Africa Cup of Nations.”
His confidence was clear. “I have great confidence in him.” Hassan concluded, “I see his morale, and I feel as if he is playing with the Egypt national team for the first time. I believe he will deliver a strong tournament alongside his teammates.”
🇪🇬🚨Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan Said that Mohamed Salah needs to win AFCON, speaking about the player’s recent period with Arne Slot: “There was constant communication with Mohamed Salah during what I don’t want to call an ‘crisis’, because any player can have a difference of… https://t.co/WUILb8MGmM pic.twitter.com/HXlSov7OQg
— Ismael Mahmoud – إسماعيل محمود (@ismaeelmahmoudd) December 21, 2025
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