Alisson strengthens coaches
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After his angry speech against Liverpool FC and coach Arne Slot, Mohamed Salah is not in the squad for the Champions League game at Inter Milan. The Egyptian is missing from the English champions’ 19-man squad for Tuesday’s game. The Dutch coach confirmed at the press conference on Monday evening that it was a disciplinary measure.
“We let him know he wasn’t traveling with us. That was the only communication we had with him,” Slot said. “I think normally I’m calm and polite, but that doesn’t mean I’m weak. When a player comments on so many things, then it’s up to me, us as a club, to react. And we reacted in such a way that he’s not here now,” said the Dutchman. Salah’s reaction was brief.
According to English media reports, those responsible have decided to take Salah out of the first team squad for a short period of time. There should therefore be no other disciplinary measures. The Egypt international could also miss the Reds’ league game against Brighton at the weekend and then leave for the Africa Cup of Nations. This is likely to further fuel speculation about a winter departure for the 33-year-old offensive player. Slot said he couldn’t answer whether Salah played his last game for Liverpool.
Salah was not in the starting line-up for the third time in a row in the crisis-hit Reds’ 3-3 draw at Leeds United in the Premier League last weekend and was not substituted on. After the game, the 33-year-old, who rarely speaks to the media in detail, caused a lot of excitement with his statements about his situation. “Someone wants me to take all the blame. The club promised me a lot in the summer. Now I’m on the bench, so I can say they didn’t keep that promise,” Salah said.
“I had a good relationship with the coach. All of a sudden we no longer have a relationship at all. And I don’t know why. Apparently someone doesn’t want me at the club anymore,” complained the 2019 Champions League winner about Liverpool’s Dutch head coach Slot. He said he didn’t feel that his relationship with the Egyptian had broken down.
Alisson on Salah: “Not his intention to disrespect anyone”
Goalkeeper Alisson also took to the podium on Monday and answered questions about his teammate. “It’s not an easy situation. I’ve been playing with Mo since I came to Europe. He’s a great guy, a legend for the LFC. We’ve achieved so much together. That doesn’t make me happy, but tomorrow we face a big challenge. That’s what we’re concentrating on,” said the Brazilian, who played alongside Salah at AS Roma – he hasn’t been on the field more often with any other teammate.
However, he has not yet spoken to his colleague about the situation. “We spend so much time together. Not so much off the pitch, but there is a connection between us. I will talk to him, but it will remain private,” said Alisson. He is sure “that it was not his intention to treat anyone disrespectfully. He had the freedom to express his opinion about his own situation. Now it depends on how we react to it.” At the end, Alisson also confirmed that the team continues to stand behind Slot.