HONEST LESSON FOR MO SALAH OF LIVERPOOL FC

Last week, the electronic media was abuzz with news about a seeming altercation between Liverpool mercurial star, Mohammed Salah and his coach, Jurgen Klopp. Whilst much was not revealed, it remains absolutely clear that Salah must have been upset about being benched for the match against West Ham United FC, only to be told to come in during the last 10 minutes of the match. Video footage showed Salah grudgingly shaking hands with Klopp and engaging in some heated exchanges with his coach, until his colleague, Darwin Nunez, intervened to stop any further exchanges.

 

Both Salah and Klopp are true legends of Liverpool FC having helped the club to win virtually every club football title in England and Europe. Before joining Liverpool FC, Salah, looked very much like a talented journeyman who’d never been fully trusted by any big European club he’s played. After leaving Basel FC, Switzerland, his move to Chelsea FC of England (he met a brick wall with Jose Mourinho, who rarely entrusted him with playing time), Inter Milan FC, Italy been rather underwhelming, until he got a new lease of life in Liverpool FC. Klopp trusted him and he blossomed to become an integral part of the successful eight-year reign of Jurgen Klopp in Liverpool FC.

 

SALAH NEEDS TO BE BETTER BEHAVED

Would Salah now begin to show such disrespect to the manager who absolutely brought out his best as a footballer? That would be surprising and utterly absurd and irresponsible. Despite leaving Liverpool FC, at the end of the 2023/24 season, whatever results the team achieves can never diminish his positive contributions to Liverpool and it is clear that by the current English Premier League standings, the team has already confirmed a European Champions League direct qualification ticket for themselves.

 

During last season's transfer market, Mo Salah was speculated to be enticed by several Saudi Arabian football clubs who worked tirelessly to attract him to the ambitious Saudi Arabian Football League project that had already lured several quality players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Jordan Henderson, Alexander Metrovic, Phillipe Coutinho, Kareem Benzema, Koulibaly, Roberto Firmino et al to their country.  Salah is the most accomplished homegrown footballer from the Middle East and has broken so many records, especially in club football, succumbing to the lure of the money-driven Saudi Arabian football revolution would have further enhanced the cult-figure status he enjoys in the Arab World, but yet he deterred to enjoy more successful seasons in the top flight European football competitions.

 

His open altercation with Jurgen Klopp and the statement he made thereafter does him no good but open a dangerous precedence that could steer other players against him and/or against the team. As one of the captains of the team, needs to solve this issue.

 

His calm demeanor has always portrayed him as a team player willing to work for the success of the team and not otherwise. His form at the twilight of the 2023-24 English Premier League season has not being been so brilliant and this possibly caused Klopp’s decision to bench him or give him more rest to recharge and rediscover his form. Taking it in bad faith, was obviously wrong, and throwing tantrums in the open further worsens his actions and he needs to nip this fast. It further gives a red signal to Arne Slot, Klopp’s perceived successor, and should learn to show more respect to his coach and fellow team members.