Former Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren says Mohamed Salah would have wanted to stay at Anfield had Arne Slot departed before him
Dejan Lovren has laid into Arne Slot and Jamie Carragher following Mohamed Salah's exit from Liverpool
Dejan Lovren has laid into Arne Slot and Jamie Carragher following Mohamed Salah's exit from Liverpool
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Former Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren says Arne Slot is solely to blame for Mohamed Salah's 'sad' Reds exit, while the Croatian has labelled Jamie Carragher's criticism of Salah as 'disgusting'.
Salah brought the curtain down on his nine-year Anfield career at the end of the season following a turbulent campaign which featured him hitting out at Slot and criticising Liverpool's style of play under the Dutchman.
Salah, the third top scorer in Liverpool history, said his goodbyes on the final day of the season, and six days later Slot was sacked as Reds head coach after two years on Merseyside.
Lovren, who formed a close bond with Salah during their three years together at Anfield, says Salah would have wanted to stay at Liverpool if he knew Slot was leaving.
"I don't think it's the management; I think it's just one person, and I think it's just the manager," said Lovren in an interview with Middle Eastern outlet WinWin.
"They didn't have a good relationship. Let's put it simply. With (Jurgen) Klopp, he had a really good relationship. It wasn't always perfect, but they knew each other very well, let's say that too, and they trusted each other, they liked each other, and Mo gave everything on the pitch for Klopp, and Klopp gave him that trust.
"But (with Slot) it was the opposite. It's that simple, and everyone knows it because when you look at the previous eight or nine seasons, he did really well. Then in the last season… Now people will say, 'Oh yes, but he also did well in the first year Slot came in,' but I don't think that was because I think he just took over the team as it was, as the team was already.
"So, like I said, it's sad in my opinion that Mo left in that way. I never expected it. Especially since he had another year."
Expanding on Salah's relationship with Slot, Lovren added: "There was no relationship. Yes, to put it simply, there was no relationship.
"I don't know why. Was it pride? Maybe it was a pride issue? I don't know, maybe Mo was too big for him to handle, I don't know, but Mo was never arrogant. I've known Mo since day one, and Mo has always been the same person."
When asked if Salah would have stayed at Liverpool had Slot departed before him, Lovren said: "Yes, he would have stayed 100%. Believe me, he would have stayed 100%, I know that. But the timing was bad."
Lovren, who currently plays for Greek side PAOK, also laid into pundit Carragher's criticisms of Salah, claiming the Egyptian deserved better treatment.
"It's not harsh. It's disgusting. Why didn't they talk about him like this for the past eight or nine years? Tell me," he said.
"Okay, one season, and then he's the target again. There are so many other issues.
"Some pundits do it just to attract attention, maybe because they haven't succeeded in other areas of their lives, so now they need to perform well.
"Sometimes people put Mo in the spotlight, and then the easy part is, like I said... especially Carragher, he says whatever he wants.
"I always said he should tell him this to his face, say all these things to Mo to his face. He'll never say that. Because I know he never will, because he never said it to me. He's talked badly about me too, but he never said that to me anyway.
"You know, he's just performing on TV and he gets paid for it, so he needs to perform this way. But whatever, it just hurts me because I know deep down who Mo is. Because he's a really good guy inside, with a good mind and a good heart. I honestly don't understand. He deserves so much better."
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