Liverpool manager praises the Egyptian’s attitude and professionalism
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot believes Mohamed Salah will “leave the club a legend” when the time comes for him to depart at the end of the season.
Salah announced last month that he had agreed with the club to cut short the contract he only extended last summer, bringing his time at Anfield to a close a year early.
The 33-year-old has endured a challenging campaign, including a public disagreement in December when he accused the club of throwing him under the bus after being dropped by Slot for a dip in form.
Relations appear to have improved between the two, with Slot re-incorporating him into the team and then praising Salah’s attitude and professionalism since they started working together. Salah was a key player as Slot won the Premier League in his debut campaign last season.
“The first day I was impressed by his professionalism,” Slot said. “He had nothing to prove but for himself he had a lot to prove because Mo always thinks he has to prove something every three days.
“That hunger never stops and that is something that I find most special about him. To show that hunger every three days, that professionalism, that commitment to the club, to the team, wanting to score again, always wanting to play – when you take him out three minutes before the end he’s like: ‘Maybe I could have scored one extra!’ – that is what stands out for me.
“Hopefully, he can make his legacy even more special in the upcoming weeks and months where we still play for something special but he will always leave this club as a legend.”
Salah’s early announcement gives supporters the opportunity to give him a proper farewell before the season ends. Slot welcomed that prospect but urged fans to continue backing the entire team as they head into the business end of the season.
Liverpool can still end the season on a high, with an FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City followed by a Champions League quarter-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
“Mo definitely deserves that the fans give him a great farewell,” Slot said. “If they want to do it game after game after game, I’m completely fine with that, because it usually helps players if they get the help from the fans – but it would be perfect if it’s not only about Mo.
“There’s every right that it should be about Mo for everything that he does for this club but we are playing for something special and I think every player needs the support of our fans in the upcoming period.”
