Sports
Arne Slot Avoids Mohamed Salah Question After Inter Milan Win
Arne Slot dodged questions regarding speaking to Mohamed Salah before Liverpool’s clash against Brighton & Hove Albion which could be the Egyptian forward’s last game for the club.
Salah was dropped from Slot‘s squad for his side’s 1-0 win over Inter Milan at the San Siro on Tuesday night after publicly airing his grievances over feeling “thrown under the bus” by the club. He also claimed to have “no relationship” with his manager, which has cast significant doubt on his future at Anfield.
The 33-year-old said he told his family to come to the Brighton game although he was unsure whether he’d be playing. Slot’s post-match interview following the victory against Inter has left the situation up in the air.
Inter Milan 0-1 Liverpool – Slot Coy Over Salah Situation
Slot spoke to Amazon Prime Sport‘s punditry team in Milan, and presenter Gabby Logan and Dutch legend Clarence Seedorf put several questions regarding Salah to the Liverpool boss. He opted not to comment on whether he’ll speak to the player before Brighton’s visit to Anfield this weekend.
The Dutchman did answer one of Logan’s questions about whether the win against Inter gave his team relief, given the ongoing troubles ensuing behind-closed-doors:
“If you mean the 3-3 against Leeds and the draw vs Sunderland, then it’s a relief. But that’s something different from what you were just describing.”
Slot added that conceding Leeds’ third in added time was “already emotional” and that “what happened was also emotional.”
The Reds manager opened up on how he feels Salah’s comments have affected his teammates:
“There are a lot of things being said, and I think that always affects the team as well. If you’re in the dressing room, you know, ‘OK, it’s about a player with a manager, but that normally affects players as well because he’s been so, so influential. So it’s never nice to see something like this happen to one of your teammates.”
Seedorf suggested that everybody makes mistakes when telling Slot that he hoped to see a reconciliation between his compatriot and Salah:
“You say everybody makes mistakes in life so the first thing should be does the player think he’s made a mistake aswell?”
Seedorf asked how you will know if you don’t talk to him and this was laughed off before Slot added:
“The next question is, should the initiative come from him or me? No that’s not a question to answer.”
Slot wanted all the focus to be on his side’s victory, which had come at a vital time for several reasons. It means they are eighth in the Champions League table after six games and bounced back from a 4-1 loss to PSV Eindhoven last time out in Europe.
Carragher: Liverpool Fans Behind Their Manager
Salah’s comments fuelled talk of a rift between player and manager which could result in one of them heading to the Anfield exit door. The club’s decision to leave the Egyptian at home for the Inter game spoke volumes of the board backing the boss over the matter.
Jamie Carragher covered the game for CBS Sports and he pointed out how the visiting supporters were chanting Slot’s name during the game:
“I was so desperate for Liverpool to win tonight. More so for the manager, for what he’s been through in the last few days. We know what’s gone on and we don’t need to go into that. But I think what was really telling was the supporters chanting his name. Not when it went 1-0 in the first half but when it was 0-0. They’re right behind their manager.”
Slot was the toast of the Kop last season when he guided the Reds to the Premier League title in his first campaign after succeeding Jurgen Klopp. The positivity was sky-high as the Dutchman claimed top spot, doing so in impressive fashion.
But a poor start to his sophomore season has raised concerns and some have questioned whether he retains the support of the club’s fanbase especially in the Salah saga. But those who attended the San Siro suggested many still have faith in their coach.
