Khaberni - Egyptian star Mohamed Salah, a Liverpool player, expressed his extreme anger at not participating with the "Reds" in the last English Premier League match, and hinted at the same time at the possibility of leaving the team in the upcoming winter transfer market.
Salah did not play yesterday with Liverpool against Leeds United in the exciting match that ended in a 3-3 draw in round 15 of the Premier League, as he remained on the bench after being excluded from the starting lineup in the previous two matches against West Ham United and Sunderland.
This is the first time in Salah's career with Liverpool that he has not participated in three consecutive Premier League matches.
Mohamed Salah's statements cause widespread controversy
Salah said in a fiery interview, "I couldn't believe I was sitting on the bench for 90 minutes. This is the third time. I think it's the first time in my career. I feel extremely frustrated, I have given so much to this club especially last season."
He added, "This situation is unacceptable to me. I feel like now it's throw Mo (Mohamed Salah) under the bus because he's a problem in the team, I don't think I'm a problem. I don't have to fight for my position every day because I earned it with my effort. I am not bigger than the club or anything, but I earned it with my work."
The Egyptian star further hinted at a possible departure from the team soon, "In football you never know what will happen but what is clear is that I do not accept this situation. I have given so much to this club. So, it hurts me to see what's happening."
It's scheduled that Salah will leave Liverpool mid-next week and join the Egypt national team's camp which will participate in the African Cup of Nations in Morocco.
He explained, "I called my mother and father and asked them to come to the Brighton match. It doesn't matter if I play or not. I will just enjoy being at Anfield and saying goodbye to the fans before the Africa Cup, because I don't know what will happen when I'm there (with the Egypt national team)."
When asked about the possibility of transferring to the Saudi league after his name was linked to several clubs there, Salah answered, "I do not want to answer this question because the club will use my words against me. I've given a lot to this club. I love the fans very much, and I love the club, and I don't know what's coming."
Salah pointed out that there is someone in the club who does not want him to stay with the team and said, "It seems the club threw me under the bus, that's how I feel," adding, "It seems someone wants to put all the blame on me," in reference to the negative results for Liverpool in the current season.
In the same interview that lasted about 7 minutes and 30 seconds, Salah (33 years old) admitted that his relationship with the Dutch coach Arnie Sloot from Liverpool had collapsed.
He said, "I had a good relationship with Sloot, but now there is no relationship between us and I don't know why. It seems that someone does not want me in the club."
Criticism of Mohamed Salah
The statements by Salah did not go unnoticed by former Liverpool stars, and they caused a division among the team's fans, according to the British site "thisisanfield".
The site highlighted several tweets that spread on the X platform where the owners strongly stood by Salah's side, feeling that he was treated like a "scapegoat".
On the other hand, former Liverpool player Danny Murphy had harsh criticisms of Salah, believing that the Egyptian star should have kept his frustration to himself rather than displaying it publicly.
Murphy said, "Salah's statements are emotional and illogical; everyone has to fight for his position. I don't think he's the only one experiencing this situation, but there are many big players who have been criticized, and even some of their fans have turned against them."
He added, "You (Salah) can be angry, you can be frustrated, you can be emotional. You've done great things for the club, but you should have kept all that within the club walls. Go and knock on the coach's door, talk to the managing director, or whoever you need, do what's necessary, and express your frustration there."
He explained, "What he did will cause a problem for the coach and the team and make it all revolve around him. You cannot do that. Whether you agree with the decision to exclude him or not, this is not the way to deal with it."
