Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah has recently dropped a bombshell interview, criticising manager Arne Slot for dropping him of late.
Mohamed Salah went on to claim that he has no relationship with manager Arne Slot anymore, and that he is being made a scapegoat for Liverpool’s struggles this season. The defending champions were expected to fight for the Premier League title this season after spending nearly half a billion pounds in the transfer market.
However, things have gone downhill for them, and they are going through a catastrophic spell. Liverpool have lost nine of the last 13 matches in all competitions, and they are unlikely to challenge for major trophies. Salah has been criticised for his form, and the player believes that the manager is trying to force him out of the club.
Salah said (h/t Daily Mail), “I’m very disappointed, I’ve done so much for this club – everyone can see that – over years, especially last season, sitting on the bench I don’t know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That’s how I feel it.
“It’s very clear that someone wants me to get all the blame. Club promised me a lot in summer. So far I I’m on bench three games, so can’t say they have kept those promises. I say many times I had a good relationship with the manager and all of a sudden we don’t have any relationship, I don’t know why. It seems like someone does not want me in the club.”
Here at The Hard Tackle, we look at some reasons why Liverpool should be siding with their club legend, instead of backing the manager in what appears to be a fiasco on and off the pitch.
Salah is Liverpool’s biggest sporting asset
The Egyptian is a far more proven asset than an underperforming head coach whose position is already under serious scrutiny. Salah has years of credibility under his belt, and he has helped Liverpool win every single trophy at club level. He has stepped up every time the club needed him to, and he has been a leader in the dressing room.
The talismanic attacker is undoubtedly the most consistent performer in the Premier League since the day he walked into the club. Even in his thirties, his elite output, fitness levels and threat in big games give Liverpool a better chance of rescuing this season.
On the other hand, the Dutch manager is largely unproven at the highest level. Slot managed to win the Premier League last season with a team assembled by Jurgen Klopp, with very little input from his own self. He is yet to prove that he is capable of managing one of the biggest clubs in the world and winning the biggest trophies around.
Arne Slot is already under pressure
Arne Slot is under increasing pressure after a poor title defence, and Liverpool simply cannot risk upsetting a generational forward who has carried their attack for years. The Dutch manager is yet to demonstrate that he is capable of managing addressing room with multiple top players.
Furthermore, Slot’s tactics have failed to get the best out of his own signings. Liverpool have been thoroughly outplayed this season, and there is no evidence to suggest that he can turn things around in the face of adversity.
Losing the dressing room
Salah has openly stated he feels “thrown under the bus” and turned into the scapegoat for Liverpool’s problems, saying he has “no relationship” with Slot and that someone at the club wants him to “get all the blame.”
This has now set a bad precedent for other players in the dressing room, and they might feel that they could be next in line to be hung out to dry when results dip. Slot has already hinted that Ibrahima Konate has not been performing at a high level, and he has been on the scene of crime far too often, alluding to Liverpool’s defensive mistakes.
Legacy value and rebuild
Salah is not just one of the best players in the club’s history. He is also one of Liverpool’s most marketable global figures with worldwide shirt sales and sponsorship appeal. Losing him would damage Liverpool’s brand and legacy far more than parting ways with a relatively unproven manager like Slot.
Also, it would be easier for Liverpool to rebuild with a new manager. They have several top-class players who are proven winners. On the other hand, sticking to a manager who has lost his dressing room could make matters worse. It is far more sensible to restart with a new manager who can rebuild the relationship with Salah and the squad.
There is plenty of potential in the Liverpool team, and the right manager might be able to unlock that. This is a team that won the league title last season, and they have been fighting for major trophies consistently over the last few years. Minor changes could help them bounce back strongly.
