Cairo, Egypt – Egyptian international Mohamed Salah, star and top scorer of Liverpool FC, expressed his anger after being benched against Leeds United in the English Premier League.
Liverpool were held to a 3-3 draw by Leeds United in their Premier League match on Saturday evening, as part of the 15th round of fixtures.
Mohamed Salah was on the bench for the entire 90 minutes of the match, for the third time in a row.
Mohamed Salah said in comments published by the English newspaper “The Sun” after the match: “I feel very disappointed. I have given a lot to this club, and everyone has seen that over the years, especially last season. I don’t know why I am sitting on the bench. I feel like the club is blaming me, that’s how I feel.”
He added: “I’ve said time and time again that my relationship with the coach is good, and suddenly our relationship has broken down. I don’t know why, to be honest, this is unacceptable to me. And I don’t know why this always happens to me, as if you’re blaming me for being the problem in the team now. I don’t think I’m the problem. I think it’s very clear that someone wanted me to take all the blame.”
He continued: “It seems to me that someone doesn’t want me at the club. I don’t understand what’s happening to me. I think if I were somewhere else, the club would protect its player. I don’t know why I’m in this situation now. I’ve done a lot for this club to earn the respect I aspire to, and I don’t have to fight every day for my position because I deserve it.”
He added: “People will say you’re not bigger than anyone. I’m not bigger than anyone else, I’m just earning my place, I deserve it. That’s football. I can’t believe it, I’ve been at this club scoring more goals than anyone else in this generation.”
He continued: “I would say that since I joined the Premier League, I don’t think anyone has scored or assisted more goals than me in the entire league. If I were somewhere else, everyone would go to the media and defend the players. I’m the only one who isn’t in that situation.”
Mohamed Salah: It’s different when it comes to Harry Kane
He continued: “I remembered a while ago that Harry Kane hadn’t scored for 10 games, I think. He scored two goals, and everyone in the media was saying, ‘Oh, Harry’s definitely going to score.’ But when it comes to Mohamed, he needs to sit on the bench.”
He added: “I met with the coach, he knows how I feel. I thought I would renew my contract here and finish my career here, but that’s not how it is now. I received a lot of promises in the summer, and so far I’m sitting on the bench in three games. So I can’t say they are keeping their promise.”
He explained: “I called my mother and father yesterday, I told them to come to the Brighton game, it doesn’t matter if I play or not, I will enjoy it.”
He added: “We’ll see what happens. In my opinion, I’ll enjoy it anyway, because I don’t know what will happen anyway. The match will be at Anfield, so this will be my farewell moment before I go to the Africa Cup of Nations.”
He concluded: “This is the club I have always supported, and my sons will always support it. I love the club very much and I always will. In football, no one knows what will happen. But I do not accept this situation. I have given a lot to this club. Interest from Saudi Arabia? I will not answer this question, because the club will take what I say in a different direction.”
