Mohamed Salah will feel like he is letting down 50 million people in Egypt by having his role reduced at Liverpool, according to former Egyptian international striker Mido, who believes the player should move to the Saudi Professional League.
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News, the former Tottenham striker, who won the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt, looked back on his career to explain Salah’s plight at Anfield, and said he believes Jamie Carragher was wrong to criticize Salah.
“I understand Salah’s situation.”
“I’ve been in this situation before. When the Liverpool game starts, the whole Egyptian people are waiting in front of the TV to see Salah play, waiting for him to score. They all feel that their son is playing in the best league in the world today. They are proud of him.”
“This puts him under a lot of pressure to play and be involved. He’s not a normal guy. He’s the king here in Egypt. People need to understand that.
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Sky Sports News Chief Correspondent Kabe Solhekol has the latest on whether Salah could move to Saudi Arabia
“For example, it was the same when I played for Tottenham. The whole of Egypt was waiting for the game. The whole of Egypt was sitting in coffee shops waiting to play today. They’re proud of me. They’re proud of Salah. And that puts pressure on me. I found myself in a situation like this.”
“Sometimes I couldn’t accept to sit on the bench and it was really frustrating. It’s not because I’m arrogant, it’s not because I feel I’m bigger than the club, it’s because I know that the people back home are waiting for me.”
“There’s probably over 40 or 50 million people waiting for the game, so if I don’t play I’m letting them down. That’s how I felt.
“So it’s the same with Salah, but he’s 10 times more than me because he’s done so much more in the game than me.”
Should Salah leave Liverpool?
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Jamie Carragher shares his thoughts on Salah’s outburst
“I think he should leave. I think it’s time for him to leave.
“If you lose faith in a manager, it’s hard to repair it. But if he leaves, you know what I mean, he has to leave through the big door. He’s done a lot for Liverpool. He’s a legend.”
“I completely disagree with Jamie Carragher’s comments about this situation. Jamie Carragher is a Liverpool legend and he has been in the game and should know better.”
“He should know that football players can be emotional sometimes and have regrets when they retire. We’ve all been in situations like this.
“I was hoping that the Liverpool legends would give Salah a little bit of protection. He’s probably one of the three or four best players to have played for Liverpool. He deserves more respect from the Liverpool legends, especially Jamie Carragher.”
Should Salah move to the Saudi Pro League?
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Peterborough chairman Darragh McAnthony says he supports Salah over Salah.
“Yes. Salah is a legend throughout the Middle East. He is the idol of all young children.
“And all of the Gulf countries have a lot of respect for Salah and his achievements in the game. And he is an example for all the old kids and the new generation and they want to have him there. They respect him.”
“I really think the Saudi League is the best place for him to go. The Saudi League is a strong league, it’s a competitive league. Now the league is broadcast in over 90 or 100 countries and you’re playing against big players and big names week in and week out.
“So if he does move, I really hope it should go to Saudi Arabia.”
“Salah deserves more respect”
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Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk says he hopes the situation between Salah and the club can be resolved
“I was surprised by Mo’s comments, but I can understand his frustration. This is a man who has carried Liverpool for many years. He has been Liverpool’s best player for many seasons and I think he expected the club and the coach to protect him when things were not going well.”
“If you look at the numbers, I don’t think Liverpool would have been champions last season without Mohamed Salah.
“It’s an important goal. If he could have taken these goals away from Liverpool, Liverpool would have finished fourth or fifth.”
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Sky Sports News’ Rob Dorsett breaks down Salah’s stats
“I’m not saying here that he’s more important than the group or the club. I completely understand the club’s reaction, but I really think Arne Slott and Liverpool should have protected Mohamed Salah more than they already have.”
“I really think this situation needs to improve because Salah is a legend and has done so much for Liverpool. I don’t think Liverpool fans should forget everything Salah has done for this football club because of one bad moment.”
“We all played football. Even if you have a lot of experience like Salah, we all know that sometimes you get emotional while playing. Sometimes you are affected by situations that you are not used to.
“I understand the frustration of Liverpool fans and I understand that they are not happy with Salah putting himself first, but I really think Salah deserves more respect from everyone.”
“Salah’s bench at Leeds showed something was wrong.”
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Tim Sherwood feels ‘out of tune’ after Salah’s comments
“I watched the Leeds game and I really think Salah should have played the last 25 minutes.
“Anyone who knows anything about football knows something is wrong there.
“The moment I saw Salah not playing, I felt something was wrong. This is not a football decision. Something is really wrong.
“So this is exactly how Salah feels. He feels that this is not a football issue. Someone is trying to put all the blame on himself and this is not right.”
“Salah has made a huge contribution to Liverpool, but I don’t think this is the right way to deal with a legend like him.”
What was the reaction in Egypt?
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Jamie O’Hara criticizes Salah’s comments
“People are really angry at Liverpool. Of course people here are saying, ‘Maybe Salah, he said it too soon. He should have waited a little longer, he should have been more patient.’
“But also people believe that if Mohamed Salah had been British, he would never have been in the same situation.
“We’ve all seen legends at every club, there are England legends at every club and they’re protected by the club.
“And I’m sorry to say this, but I truly believe that if Salah were British, he wouldn’t have been criticized as much.”
